The very popular Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is regarded the `ultimate macho man` in the Bollywood film industry. He is the son of the legendary "power couple" of the Bollywood Film Industry, Nargis and Sunil Dutt. Having taken birth to parents both of who were awarded the Padmashree, which is also regarded as the high civilian honor in the Indian subcontinent acting, seems to be a natural trait in the blood of Sanjay Dutt. His father Sunil Dutt was also a politician and also campaigned for the Congress Party of India.

Sanjay Dutt made his silver screen debut with the Bollywood film called `Rocky` which saw light of the day in the year 1981 and went on to become a big hit. The film made by his father went onto become a chartbuster but did not establish him as a star by complete means. Soon after he began to build up his career gradually delievered many hits such as `Vidhaata`, `Naam`, `Kabzaa`, `Hathyar`, `Sadak` and `Saajan`. But the major turning point in his career finally came with Subhash Ghai directed `Khalnayak`. This film made the whole nation aware about the birth of a new star. Unfortunately the release of the film happened to coincide with his arrest in connection with the 1993 Mumbai Bombings. Both the hype in connection with the event and his convincing portrayal of the villainous role in the film gave his career a much-needed boost. He also received a film fare nomination for the role of a best actor.

After getting released from the jail Sanjay Dutt steadily built on his fan following. Over the last few years he has matured lot as an actor with all kinds of roles being his forte. His powerhouse performances in Bollywood flicks like `Vaastav`, `Mission Kashmir`, `Munnabhai M.B.B.S.` and `Lage Raho Munnabhai` earned him not only rave reviews but also many awards. In the Bollywood flick "Vaastav" his character portrayal of a gangster earned him almost all the prestigious awards of the film fraternity and further cemented his place as one of the best actors in the Indian Film Industry. Alongwith his friend and director Sanjay Gupta he also formed a production company called `White Feather Films`. Jointly they have produced Bollywood films like `Kaante`, `Musafir` and `Zinda`. In all the films the actor was seen in the lead role. He was also seen excelling in comic roles in Bollywood flicks such as `Munnabhai MBBS`, `Haseena Maan Jayegi`, `Jodi No. 1`, `Lage Raho Munna Bhai` and so on.

Sanjay Dutt has also been successful in maintaining his huge fan following and the public is always eager to back him. He is also known in the industry as an individual possessing a `heart of gold`. He also had his share of sufferings since a very tender age. From the early days he took to drugs and this was huge enough to worsen his mother`s health who was already diagnosed with cancer. Within a few weeks of the death of his mother his first film was scheduled for release and at that point a heartbroken son indulged in more of drug business. Soon after his father took care of him by taking him to a rehab center in Texas but on reaching New York he suffered from a collapsed lung. After attending a rehabilitation program in the United States, he again started working in films.

The misery in the life of the actor did not come to an end even after so many mishaps. On 18th January 2007 a person called Abhimanyu Altekar filed an Intervener`s Application against Sanjay Dutt and further stated that he deserves no mercy as he was enough mature when he brought illegal weapons and also knowing difference between legal and illegal weapons. He also stated that his act cannot be considered as a "Mistake made due to lack of knowledge". The application filed by Abhimanyu Altekar was logical and right on merit but it was opposed by prosecution and advocate of Sanjay Dutt due to legal issue of Locus Standi. Initially he denied the charges that he was involved with the larger conspiracy to blow up Mumbai, but acknowledged that he personally knew the other accused. On November 28, 2006, a special TADA court found actor Sanjay Dutt guilty under the Arms Act of possessing an illegal weapon. He was cleared, however, of the charges of terrorism and conspiracy.

On the personal front he was also not a very happy soul and tied the knot with Richa Sharma who with her immense love and care nursed him back from his lung injury. She also gave birth to his child a year later, but almost immediately Dutt learned that his wife had brain tumor. Within a couple of months his wife died and then followed a bitter custody battle between him and his in-laws over the custody of his only daughter. Unfortunately he lost at the end. His daughter Trishala now lives in New York with her grandparents. Following that he worked with extreme dedication to resurrect his career with the superhit Bollywood flick `Saajan` and his first Filmfare nomination for the best actor in a lead role. But soon after that the Mumbai Police again arrested him for his alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai bombings. He again went onto spend more than 18 months in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai and after his release he married Rhea Pillai. Unfortunately this marriage also did not last long for him and the couple divorced in the year 2005 after spending the last few years apart. With a brave heart he also took the death of his father Sunil Dutt, the then Sports Minister of India in May 2005. His sister Namrata Dutt is married to another popular Bollywood actor Kumar Gaurav. Another sister of his named Priya contested and won the election for her father`s constituency and is now a Member of Parliament. His peers are among his biggest fans. Salman Khan, Zayed Khan, Fardeen Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and many more look up to Dutt as an icon.

For his superb career Sanjay Dutt has received several national and international awards for his films. His International Indian Film Academy Awards includes "Award for Artistic Excellence, Actor in a leading role" for `Vaastav` in the year 2000. He also received Nomination for Best actor for his role in `Mission Kashmir` in 2001. Another prestigious awards ceremony includes his name since 1992 for his remarkable achievements. In 1992 he received Nomination for Best Actor for `Saajan`, in the year 1994 he received Nomination for Best Actor for `Khal Nayak`, in 2000 he was the winner of Best Actor award for `Vaastav: The Reality`, in 2001 he received Nomination for Best Actor for `Mission Kashmir`, in the year 2003 he received Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for `Kaante`, in 2004 he was declared the Winner of the Best Comedian Award for the superhit Bollywood flick `Munnabhai M.B.B.S.`, in 2006 he received Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for `Parineeta`, in the year 2007 he again received Nomination of Best Actor Award for `Lage Raho Munna Bhai`. In the year 2006 he was also the Winner of Global Indian Film Awards in the category of Critics Choice Awards - Best Actor (Male) for `Lage Raho Munna Bhai`. In the year 2004 he was the Winner of Stardust Star of the Year Award - Male for `Munnabhai M.B.B.S`. In 2007 he was again declared Winner of Stardust Star of the Year Award - Male for `Lage Raho Munnabhai`. Another prestigious event ceremony in the film division Star Screen Awards also honoured him with several awards. In 2000 he was declared the Winner in the Best Actor category for `Vaastav: The Reality`, in 2001 he received the Nomination in the Best Actor category for `Kurukshetra`, in the year 2001 he was the Winner of Best Supporting Actor for `Mission Kashmir`, in 2004 he received Nomination for Best Actor for `Munnabhai M.B.B.S.`, in 2005 he again received Nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actor for `Deewaar`. His forthcoming films include `Munna Bhai Chale America`, `Jaan Ki Baazi`, `Alibaug`, `Mehbooba`, `Mohabbat Ho Gayi Hai Tumse` and `Master Madan`. Recent his release `Shootout at Lokhandwala` received great critical acclaim.