It’s the story of one of the most scrutinised Bollywood actors, at a time, when the only possible alternative to a celebrity being idealistically good, was him being supremely bad. A time of only black or white. A time when there was no room for greys. A time when celebrities were either demigods and larger than life, or villains who could not do anything right. Either Ram or Ravan. And once declared a Khalnayak, there was no road back to redemption.
It’s the story of a boy, born in a golden family of Indian cinema, who never grows up, no matter how hard he tries. He looks for a mentor in his father, the too-perfect model citizen. He looks for love and strength in his mother, who dies too early. He looks for companionship in his friend Kamlesh, who lives too far away. He looks for the courage to counter his under-confident and faint-hearted personality. He keeps seeking a human connection that is authentic, but the life of a celebrity keeps him away from anything real.
It’s the story of a popular actor and his less-than-perfect life story that almost starts feeling like Lemony Snickets - a youth that’s lost to drugs, an inadvertent juvenile decision that gives him the tag of a terrorist for life, a series of imprisonments that break your heart, a misunderstood celebrity that becomes a victim of sensational media, and a life spent in trying to clear his name and live a normal life.
It’s the story of us, the public, and how quick we are to judge, and with all our self-delusion of being rational and informed and well-read, how easily we are manipulated to form perceptions that are merely based on what the media is feeding us. And this, at a time when social media didn’t exist! Can we really trust our beliefs about people and the world around us? Can we be sure our opinions are truly our own, and not biased by fake news and propaganda?
Well, if there are two things from this movie to teach our children, it’s this. Say no to drugs. And beware fake news and propaganda.
But, most of all, it’s the story of a father and son. A father, who lived righteously, struggled with his wife’s suffering and his son’s troubled life, but still somehow was a pillar of strength through it all, supporting, championing, nurturing and protecting his Sanju. And a son, who could never live up to his father’s expectations, always feeling inadequate, meandering through his life without a plan, struggling to control his life, resisting yet dependent on his father.
A father. A son. Both at odds with each other, yet part of the same whole. Both responsible for each other’s miseries, yet dependent on each other for their happiness. Both completely different people, yet somehow complete each other.
It’s an emotional film with powerful performances, directed by Raju Hirani, in his quintessential meaningful-yet-light touch. Ranbir Kapoor is absolutely brilliant. It’s like the ghost of Sanjay Dutt is in him. He IS Sanju, every second of the film. Paresh Rawal, as Sunil Dutt is convincing. And Vicky Kaushal, as his best friend, does a fabulously endearing role.
Just don’t expect a complete biography of Sanjay Dutt, because the movie stays clear of two important aspects of his life - his love life and his filmography. I must admit, I would have loved to have seen how his movies over the years intertwined with what was going on in his life. Movies like Naam, Thanedaar, Saajan, Sadak, Khalnayak…
But all said and done, whether you were a Sanju fan or not, whether you’re a Ranbir fan or not, the movie must be watched simply because it touches a chord in your heart, that will forever change the way you thought of Sanjay Dutt, the original bad boy of Bollywood.
