Maanayata Dutt canvasses support in LA for Marathi film, Baba
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; October 14, 2019)

Maanyata Dutt is back in Mumbai from Los Angeles after canvassing support for Baba, the first Marathi offering of Sanjay S Dutt Productions, the studio launched by Sanjay Dutt and her.

As the star husband was busy with his commitment, the actor's bestie Paresh Ghelani — the character portrayed by Vicky Kaushal played in Sanju (2018) — accompanied Maanayata on the all-important trip. She says, "The screening was for the members of the Golden Globes. It is on the basis of [such screenings] that the jury officially selects films for the shortlist. It is a proud moment for us to be part of the [run-up to the] foreign films' category."

Starring Deepak Dobriyal and Nandita Dhuri, the Marathi film received acclaim on its release earlier this year. "When we heard the story of Baba, we immediately agreed to produce the film. It is such a delicate story of a hearing-impaired father and his adopted son."

The producer is hopeful that the film will make it to the nominations' list at the Golden Globes, which will be held on January 5, 2020. "Besides running our production house, writing and art are also a passion with me," adds Maanayata, who is a hands-on producer.

Squeezing in time from his family holiday, Sanjay Dutt all set to launch Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 trailer in Singapore today
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 4, 2018)

It's not all play for Sanjay Dutt, who headed to Singapore for a short holiday with wife Maanayata, children Shahraan and Iqra, and good friend Paresh Ghelani on Monday. The actor, we hear, will pull some time out to launch the trailer of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 in the country today.

Given Dutt's popularity in Singapore, the producers decided to host a trailer launch at the Grand Ballroom of Singapore Swimming Club in Tanjong Rhu. Says a member from the promotional team, "It is the first time that the trailer of a Bollywood film is being unveiled in Singapore. Sanjay enjoys a wide fan base here, so, it made sense to host a special event. The event will also include a segment, In Conversation With Sanjay Dutt, where the actor will reflect on his journey in the movies. The audience will also get an opportunity to interact with him."

A small fashion segment will follow, with Dutt taking to the ramp with the best dressed 'saheb' and 'biwi' from the audience, the source adds. "Also, one lucky member will get a jadoo ki jhappi from him. After the launch, Sanju will stay over for a few days with his family."

Producer Rahul Mittra, who will be attending the event along with Dutt, says, "After the tremendous response we got for the trailer in India and other countries, I am excited to see the Singapore audience's reaction to it."

Set to hit screens on July 27, the third instalment of Tigmanshu ˆDhulia's action thriller will see Dutt slip into the role of the anti-hero, previously played by Randeep Hooda and Irrfan Khan. It also stars Chitrangda Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahi Gill and Soha Ali Khan.

Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal in Sanju. Vicky's character is a mix of several of Dutt's buddies

Upcoming biopic on the Munnabhai actor's troubled life has Vicky Kaushal portraying the friends who form Dutt's core group
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 3, 2018)

When actor Sanjay Dutt walked out of Pune's Central Jail on February 25, 2016, having served the last 42 months of his five-year imprisonment - following his conviction in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case - among the many who made it a point to be there that day was Paresh Ghelani, a US-based entrepreneur, and one of Dutt's closest friends. Ghelani had flown down especially to spend time with the actor.

It was a Thursday, but that week the partying began early on for Dutt at his brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav's home. On the way back from the party, Dutt insisted that Paria (his nickname for Ghelani), sit on his lap. This wasn't because of a lack of space in the vehicle, but it was Dutt's way of showing the warm camaraderie he shared with his pal and also for making up for lost time while the actor was behind bars.


Sanjay Dutt with Paresh Ghelani, who he calls Paria

Dutt, 58, is known to be fiercely protective of his close buddies. They have stood by him during his worst times. He always says his heart rules his head, and it is his friends who strike a note of caution in him. When the trailer of one of the most awaited films of the year, Sanju (in which actor Ranbir Kapoor portrays Dutt) released on May 30, 2018, aside from the general curiosity around Dutt's rather controversial life, what got most viewers intrigued was the quiz the 3.04-minute trailer threw up: Who is playing whom. And, which friend does the endearing character of Vicky Kaushal represent.

At the trailer launch, the film's director Rajkumar Hirani - who first worked with Dutt in the 2003 runaway hit Munnabhai MBBS - says that while making a biopic, it becomes difficult to show each and every person from the life on whom the film is based. "You have to merge some characters. In Sanju, instead of showing all his friends, we have shown one character, who is a mix of his buddies."

Apart from Ghelani, those who are part of Dutt's core group include Ajay (Bittu) Arora, Raj Bansal (film distributor), Ajay Marwah and Pradeep Sinha - traces of whom have all been rolled into Kaushal's character. Marwah is a Bandra resident whose family has a theatre business. The two met almost three decades ago when they started working out at the same gym. He says, "Hirani met me three years ago, while scripting Sanju. It's a film, so there will be cinematic liberties. I liked the teaser, I am looking forward to seeing Sanju. It will be surreal to watch a life you have been a part of on the big screen." Sinha, a Versova resident who runs a textile machinery import business, adds, "Ranbir's looks and mannerisms are near original. It is just like Sanju's."

Sinha then talks about his role in Dutt's wedding to Manyata. The wedding happened in 2008 at Sinha's Versova home at Badrinath Towers - a hush-hush event that took the industry by surprise. "It was tough keeping it a secret. Imagine planning a wedding at your home but not telling anyone who the groom and bride is," recalls Sinha. Sinha adds that Dutt is not shy about talking about his time in jail and experience with cops. "Once during a holiday to Thailand, he kept relating his ordeal. He told my wife Sanjita 'you should record and make notes of whatever I am saying and put them in a book'," he adds. Incidentally, actor Anushka Sharma who plays a biographer in the film to whom Kapoor (as Dutt) tells his story, stays in the same high-rise where Dutt married Manyata. Adds Sinha, "This is a strange coincidence. Another connect with the film."


Dutt, Raj Bansal and Rajkumar Hirani

Bansal is a film distributor based in Jaipur. He first met him when Dutt was shooting for Naam (1986) in Rajasthan. He had made arrangements for the actor's hotel stay. They bonded over their sense of humour. Dutt refers to him as Thakur and would write letters to him from jail, which remain his prized possessions. Bansal says, "I went numb after watching the trailer. I have known Sanjay for over 30 years." Last year, to celebrate his birthday, Dutt had flown to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Ghelani had flown in from the US to give him company. Recently, Arora evinced interest in turning director and making a comic caper, Dutt gave his nod immediately. Friends have stood by for him and the actor for them. Now they are looking forward to see his life unspool on the big screen and find a bit of them in it.


Maria on screen
If you're wondering who the cop on screen is, it's former Mumbai top cop Rakesh Maria. Maria, incidentally a close friend of the film's producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, was in charge of the probe in the 1993 serial blasts case and was deputy commissioner of police. His team arrested Dutt from the airport after he returned from Mauritius.

An officer in the probe team who is currently posted with Mumbai police said Dutt's name cropped up in the case after two people Sameer Hingora and Hanif Kadawala named him and told the police that they had supplied weapons to the actor. The official recalled that Dutt was picked up by Maria's team from the airport.

"Initially he kept telling the police that he (Dutt) was not involved in the case," he added. However, as shown in the movie, Maria caught the actor by his hair and one tight slap was enough for Dutt to admit his part. It was Maria's team that investigated the case and then put up a chargesheet against the actor.
— Rahul Mahajani


Manyata Dutt with Ajay (Bittu) Arora


Manyata and Dutt tied the knot at Pradeep Sinha's (extreme right) Versova home


Dutt with Raj Bansal


Ajay Marwah and Sanjay Dutt

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; March 7, 2016)

Sanjay Dutt is up and about. A little over a week post his release from jail, the actor has been hitting the social circuit with his buddies in tow.

In the wee hours of Sunday, he was spotted partying with his old pal, US-based entrepreneur Paresh Ghelani, whom Dutt fondly refers to as Parya. Ghelani has specially flown down from Los Angeles to spend time with the actor; the two go back a long way. The bond that Dutt shares with his pal can be ascertained from their snapshots. He made Parya sit on his lap in the car — not that there was no space for him in the vehicle; it was perhaps their idea of having fun and making up for lost time.

Dutt along with his other buddy, businessman Raja Dhody had a night out at his brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav’s new residence, Seven On The Hill, also in Pali Hill, Bandra. Gaurav has moved from Imperial Heights (where the Dutts stay) to a new highrise where his father Rajendra Kumar’s Dimple preview theatre stood. Dutt’s wife Manyata, sister Priya Dutt and her hubby Owen Roncon were also present at the bash.



Says an onlooker, “Sanjay was seen exiting Kumar Gaurav’s place at 2.30 am. Since it is a new place, it was a sort of a housewarming party. While getting into the car, he insisted that Parya sit on his lap in the car. The presence of the paparazzi was no deterrent. The actor looked relaxed and cheerful.”

On Friday night, Dutt along with Manyata made his first public appearance at hotelier Kishore Bajaj’s daughter, Kresha’s wedding reception in Worli which had several Bollywood folk in attendance.