Actor Shivaji Satam, best known for portraying ACP Pradyuman in CID, recently reflected on a heartfelt moment with Sanjay Dutt during a challenging chapter in Dutt’s life. Facing accusations tied to the 1993 Mumbai blasts, Dutt confided in Satam while juggling exhausting court hearings by day and late-night film shoots. Though ultimately acquitted of charges related to the bombings, Dutt was sentenced to six years in prison under the Arms Act in 2007 for illegal possession of weapons.
In an interview with Friday Talkies, Shivaji recalled a particular film shoot where Dutt made a cameo appearance. “Sanju had to attend court every time during that film. I played a father to a daughter, whose dying wish was to see Sanjay Dutt once. He would come on set to shoot the scene at 2 in the night, after finishing his court hearings during the day. Then we did Vaastav. Sanju is innocent, he had no air of being a star even then,” Shivaji reflected.
During the making of Vaastav, a milestone in Shivaji’s career, Dutt expressed his sense of helplessness over his situation. Dutt had always maintained that the bag of weapons found was planted on him. Shivaji recalled, “He is actually very vulnerable. Even then I remember he would tell me, ‘Shiva ab kya kare yaar, ye bag aaya, main phass gaya.’ I would tell him, ‘Baba kuch nahi hoga, tu aise he rehna.’ We did four-five films with him. He is a wonderful, big-hearted person.”
One particular instance that left a lasting impression on Shivaji was when Sanjay Dutt invited him and a few friends over for a meal. Dutt, using one of the latest mobile phones of that time, caught Shivaji’s eye. “So, I complimented him for it. Later when the lunch was over, he removed his sim card and handed me the device. ‘Please keep it, I have one more, you use this one now,’” Shivaji fondly recalled.
Sanjay Dutt made his film debut in 1981 with Rocky. Over the years, he gained recognition for his versatile roles in films like Naam, Saajan, Khalnayak, and the critically acclaimed Vaastav, which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
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