BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: 5 Unknown facts of Sunil Dutt

Sunil Dutt, born as Balraj Dutt, on the 6^th of June, 1928, was a Radio Jockey, an actor and even a politician. In short, his life had equal amounts of ups and downs like his son Sanjay Dutt. We all knew the Mother India actor through the lenses of the media and our perceptions about him, both as a politician and a father, were constructed only on the basis of what we read about him. To get a closer view of his emotions, and his hurdles, particularly as a father, we all have to wait for Sanju.

Till then, let’s delve into some unknown and fascinating facts about the legendary actor:-

1. The first meeting with Nargis Dutt

His first meeting and subsequent romantic liaison with the late Nargis Dutt is nothing less than a Hindi film story. Sunil Dutt, during his tenure as a Radio Jockey in the year 1954, was working for Radio Cyclone and assigned an interview with Nargis, the hearth-throb of everyman back then, and here was Sunil Dutt, equally debonair and dashing, and with a rousing baritone. Alas, Nargis’ aura and beauty overpowered Dutt’s charming persona. The actor could hardly utter a word and the interview had to be cancelled.

2. Mother India- Beginning of a love story

Although Nargis, at the age of 28, played the role of Sunil Dutt’s mother, who was a year older than her, in one of Hindi Cinema’s greatest films, Mother India, this was the film where love blossomed between the actors. Dutt put his own life on the line to save Nargis when an accidental fire broke on the sets. Remember seeing this in the Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer Om Shanti Om? That was an ode to Mother India. 

3. Surviving a plane crash

Destiny wasn’t yet ready to let Dutt depart to the skies. In 2001, the actor survived a plane-crash when it crash-landed at a field in Bhaduri village, situated at the Nashik district of Maharashtra. He was admitted to the hospital for a few days, though.

4. Working as a Clerk

Superstar Rajinikanth’s history as a bus conductor is known by everyone, but a lot of people still continue to be unaware that Sunil Dutt also worked as a clerk with the Mumbai city’s BEST supply department during his struggling days! And some people say actors have it easy!

5. The Sanjay Dutt episode of 1993

When Sanjay Dutt was convicted under TADA in the 1993 Bombay Blasts Case, for illegal possession of weapons, including an AK-56, Sunil Dutt took help from the Shiv Sena Founder, the late Bal Thackeray. People believe Sanjay Dutt was granted bail only because of Thackeray.

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