An Exclusive Interview With Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt on his role in 'Munnabhai MBBS '

'Munnabhai MBBS' Review

Tell us about your role in Munnabhai MBBS?
It’s about a small time hoodlum in Mumbai who lies to his father that he’s a doctor. When his father learns the truth, he is shattered. I vow that I will become a doctor. So I struggle and find my way into a medical college. I spread a lot of love and affection in the college.

Do you relate to your character in it?
I don’t relate to it but it was great fun playing it. I loved every moment of it.

How did it feel sharing the frame with your dad for the first time?
It felt good. Though there was nothing traumatic about it!

Are you aware that Shah Rukh Khan was supposed to play Munnabhai?
Yeah. Vidhu is more than a brother to me. I have told him that I will do his films however small my role may be. Even a 2-minute role is okay. Initially he offered me the role that Jimmy Shergill is now playing. Later Shah Rukh opted out of the role because of his back problem and Vidhu told me that I was playing Munnabhai.

  The songs of the film have not been appreciated at all.
They are situational songs. You will like them when you see them in the film.

  Then what made you go ahead and sing for Plan too after Munnabhai…?
Sanjay Gupta makes me do a lot of things. I like to do things for people who are close to me.

  People often say ‘Sanjay Dutt would have been a bigger star had he operated from his mind’.
I’ve always worked from the heart and that is the reason why I am loved in the industry. I am not the sort who goes up to big producers and says, ‘Sir, I want to work with you!’

  Does ‘working from the heart’ pay off in this industry.
I am happy where I am. I am doing well without the big banners! It’s ok for me to play soft characters in half my films but basically I have a tough action hero image.

  Your character in Gaurang Doshi’s Deewar seems to be just the right look for you.
I am very excited about my role in it. Gaurang is raving about how the film will bring out the terrific actor in me like never before.

  Your character in Gaurang Doshi’s Deewar seems to be just the right look for you.
I am very excited about my role in it. Gaurang is raving about how the film will bring out the terrific actor in me like never before. I agree with him but I have also vowed that I will bring out the stuntman in him. Whatever stunts I have to do in it, I will make him do the same. If I jump into the water, he will do the same.