Sanjay Dutt

Hindi film actor Sanjay Dutt, known by many appellations throughout his storied career--badboy of Bollywood, goodwill ambassador, political candidate, accused terrorist--managed, with the enduring love of his fans, to become a Bollywood legend. The foundation was laid by Dutt's famous parents: his mother, Nargis, considered the pre-eminent actress of '40s and '50s Indian cinema, and his father, Sunil Dutt, a celebrated actor and director turned elected official, who directed Sanjay in the 1981 action drama "Rocky." As the film's vengeance-seeking hero, Dutt established himself as a screen star, pumping out hits throughout the '80s and '90s, from thriller "Jeeva" to family drama "Vidhaata." A consistent box office draw despite a seemingly never-ending tide of personal setbacks and scandals, including an arrest for the illegal possession of terrorist-tainted firearms, Dutt rarely won acclaim as a serious actor. He did achieve critical breakthroughs with his dramatic roles as a disabled poet in the romance "Saajan" and in the international blockbuster "Vaastav: The Reality" as a reluctant hit man. The prolific pace of Dutt's acting output continued into the 2000s, impervious to his ongoing and extremely high-profile legal troubles, which found him appealing his sentencing for arms possession all the way to the Indian Supreme Court. He racked up some of the biggest hits of his career, demonstrating his versatility in action thrillers like "Luck" and a string of comedies, including "Lage Raho Munna Bhai," featuring Dutt in his signature role as a golden-hearted gangster--a sly analog to his embattled but beloved public persona.