His Life, His Story
By Puloma Mukherjee

She swore she would be by his side for eons to come, she wanted no one else, she loved only him. He pleaded, he wasn’t for her to love, that he was a nomad, he had no one, loving him would only bring her pain, misery and anguish – A song two fabulous actors sang to each other from opposite sides of a wall, symbolic of their sentiments. Every time the song played on TV, I’d run to see it. Not so much Talat Mahmood’s beautiful, unmatched voice, not so much for the song which bore the signature of the classic 1950’s black and white Indian cinema at its best. It was his face, charming, tranquil and sincere and so not the conventional Indian cinema face.

The movie - Chhaya, 1961, not among his better-known movies, the star - Sunil Dutt, the song - a personal favorite ...

Unlike his role as Birju in Mother India, the movie that is often chosen to symbolize Indian cinema, Sunil Dutt was soft spoken, warm, amicable and approachable, and sure enough, went on to be among the much loved and respected actors in India. On the sets of Mother India, he saved co-actor Nargis’s life from a fire. A passionate romance ensued between the two, and soon the two were married. Just like the movies. Together they had three children, of whom Sanjay Dutt is a noted movie star.

Born in 1929, as Balraj, in Pakistan, Sunil Dutt bore the scars of partition throughout his life. Separated from his uncle during partition, he came to India in 1947 with his mother, sister and brother. What followed is a remarkable story of misfortune, struggle, perseverance and triumph. He moved to Mumbai in the early 50’s for an undergraduate degree in Jai Hind College, where he wrote and acted in plays. Keymers, a British advertising company, soon chose him to host a show on radio where he interviewed top movie stars of the day. His job brought him in close contact with producers and directors. The radio programmes became very popular with people; he covered the making of movies, the sets, and premieres.

"Yes, I would be interested, but only as a hero", he said with a twinkle to Ramesh Sehgal when he asked Sunil Dutt, if he wanted to star in a new movie. He wasn’t even being cocky, especially since he thought Ramesh Sehgal was only teasing him. Much to Dutt Sahib’s surprise, he got a screen tested and auditioned for Ramesh Sehgal’s new movie Railway Platform. A man of principles, Dutt risked pending his first movie offer from a successful director, to keep his promise to his mother about finishing school before he went on to movies.

A spate of fabulous movies followed – of which Mother India fetched Sunil Dutt international stardom. Ek hi Rasta, Sadhna, Sujata, Main Chup Rahungi, Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke, Mujhe jeene Do, Yaadein, Gumrah,Mehrbaan, Milan and Humraaz are just a few of the fabulous star’s notable achievements.

All the glamour and glitz apart, his was not an easy life. Pained by his wife’s death and son Sanjay Dutt’s drug addiction, and involvement with the Mafia, Sunil Dutt was exemplary in his faith and determination. He dedicated himself to efforts for bringing peace in the Indian subcontinent. He even became a member of the parliament to be better positioned for such efforts. A cancer hospital in Nairobi, the Nargis Dutt foundation, numerous peace efforts in Punjab and medical equipment worth millions of dollars are all fruits of his efforts.

In May 2005, Sunil Dutt succumbed to a massive heart attack. Movies, India, peace, humanity and secularism – Sunil Dutt stood for all of this and much more. It's one thing to be a great movie star, win awards and be an icon, and another to inspire millions to face all odds with a smile, and to stand by your people in the face of adversity. Sunil Dutt will remain etched in the hearts and minds of people, for both.