Reflections about the screen jodi Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit

Okay, first of all: This is not about whether they in real life were in love or a couple or had an affair or all the other fruits of the 90s' grapevine. That's their private business and doesn't matter to me. Both Sanju and Madhuri had always denied any love affair between them; they always claimed they just liked each other very much, and they obviously loved to work together. That's good enough for me.



"Sanju is a fantastic human being. He's very nice at heart and, contrary to what people think, he has a good sense of humour. He's the only guy who can keep me in splits. He doesn't play games, he is a very straight-forward", said Madhuri in 1991 about Sanju who, in return, assured in 1999: "Madhuri Dixit is a good human being and the best dancer we have. There was terrific chemistry between us on screen. No, we weren't at all like Dharmendra-Hema Malini or Amitabh Bachchan-Rekha simply because we didn't do as many films together as they did. But there was a certain magic in Saajan, Sahibaan and Khalnayak."



A certain magic, yes. I guess it was this terrific chemistry which just fuelled the rumours about their private relationship. The three films Sanju named are maybe their best-known ones, but how many did they together? And which ones? Only very few people can answer this question offhand today.

I'll reveal it: Eight films starring Sanju and Madhuri were completed and released between 1988 and 1997. Many more were planned - eg Ramesh Sippy's Zameen with the fabulous cast Sanju, Madhuri, Sridevi, Vinod Khanna and Rajnikant which, alas, never was completed. Or Prem Granth which was considered as a symbolic reunion of the legendary jodi Nargis and Raj Kapoor as it was produced by Raj's grandson Rajiv Kapoor and should star Nargis' son Sanju alongside with Madhuri. But due to date hassles, Sanju finally quit the project to avoid further delay of the film which, thereafter, was made with Rajiv's brother Rishi in Sanju's role. Sigh. I would have loved to see Sanju as Soman.



So we must content ourselves with eight Sanju-Madhuri films – out of which hardly any actually showed them as a couple in love! In Ilaaka (1989), Madhuri was Mithun Chakraborty's love interest while Sanju's girl was Amrita Singh. In Sahibaan (1993) and Khalnayak (1993) Sanju loves Madhuri in vain as her love belongs to Rishi Kapoor respectively Jackie Shroff. In Saajan (1991) they fall in love, but then Sanju decides to abandon his love in favour of his beloved friend Salman Khan, and only in the film's final scene he gets back the love of his life. In Thanedaar (1990) they are already a couple from the beginning, but more accomplices than lovers. A Sanju-Madhuri couple in love we only get, apart from Saajan, in Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988) and Kanoon Apna Apna (1989) where, however, their love story is just a subplot and not really important for the story. Even in their last joint film, the ill-fated Mahaanta (1997), their love is in the end only the cause for some terrible crimes which prompt Sanju to start an extensive violent vendetta against the villains where love doesn't stand a chance anymore.



Regarding all this, one might wonder where to look for that certain magic. But believe me, it is! It is that terrific chemistry Sanju talked about and which you can see when they are in love, when they are not in love, when they have fun, when they quarrel, when she's mad at him, when he's mad at her, when he gets her, when he loses her... There's no doubt about that they really enjoyed working together. And thorough professionals they are, they even managed to keep this magic and chemistry intact in the last scenes for Mahaanta they shot in 1997 after Sanju's agonizing 15 months as an undertrial in jail. His pain was clearly visible in his eyes, and they had, as Sanju admitted, stopped talking to each other, but on screen the old magic prevailed.



But one piece of magic concerning the Sanju-Madhuri jodi is absolutely undisputable: While working with the goddess of dance, Sanju discovered his own dancing skills. He always confessed that he has two left feet and was not really interested in dancing, but now, at Madhuri's side, Sanju started working hard and evolved into a dancer who, in those glorious 90s when he was at the top, did up to five dance numbers in his films and obviously had fun doing so. I'm sure this was also thanks to Madhuri and her good dance influence on him.



For me, Sanjay Dutt & Madhuri Dixit are a screen jodi which easily stand comparison to Raj Kapoor & Nargis. Thank you, Madhuri and Sanju, for all the beautiful and unforgettable moments you gave to me!

Sanjay Dutt completes 30 years in the film industry

Yes, yes, I know, he made his first appearance on the silver screen already 1971 in his father Sunil Dutt's film Reshma Aur Shera – a cute little boy beaming and trying to clap rhythmically in a qawwali scene. But his adult debut film came ten years later: Rocky, premiered on May 8, 1981; not really a success, but it nevertheless made Sanju a new heartthrob in the industry. Especially after he successfully fought his drug addiction in the early 80s and then impressed with his intense performance in Naam (1986), he silenced all the people who much too early had written him off.

In the following years he started a fitness trend which subsequently was followed by many of his colleagues. "Sanjay Dutt was the first to make a macho physique a fashion statement," wrote the Stardust in 1997. "The Deadly Dutt has an animal sexuality about him that emanates as much from his perfectly sculpted 'he-man' physique as from his large, vulnerable eyes with their 'little lost boy' look. Add to that his smile, his hair and his recklessness and you have a lost lion cub that is just waiting to be mothered. Not many women have been able to resist that."

Never did Sanjay show this combination of muscles and vulnerability more clearly than in Sadak (1991) which made him the most wanted action hero of the 90s. Other highlights of these years were Saajan (1991 – the role of a crippled, sensitive poet earned Sanjay his first Filmfare Best Actor nomination), Aatish (1994) and Khalnayak (1993) which became a synonym for Sanjay: the 'antihero' which won the people's hearts though being a 'villain'.

It was sheer, bitter irony, that Khalnayak just advanced to one of the biggest hits in 1993 while at the same time the fiction became reality for Sanjay when he was arrested and jailed, suspected of being involved in terrorist acts leading to the Mumbai blasts – an accusation he finally was to be acquitted of in 2006. At that time, he had made himself another popular identity besides the 'Khalnayak' – it was the loveable and golden-hearted Munnabhai he played in Rajkumar Hirani's blockbusters Munnabhai MBBS (2003) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006).

At the age of 51, Sanjay Dutt still enjoys a firm position in the industry and is still a much sought-after actor who gets more film offers than he can accept. Besides, he has launched his own production banner Sanjay Dutt Productions; his maiden home production will be Rascals starring him and his buddy Ajay Devgn. Other forthcoming projects include Double Dhamaal and Karan Johar's Agneepath remake where Sanjay plays the role of the villain Kancha Cheena.

So now, as my gift to Sanjay's 30th birthday in the film industry (many, many happy returns of the day, Sanju!), I present you my slightly different film recommendation list – apart from the usual suspects (as named above):


Hathyar (1989)
JP Dutta's fabulous action movie Hathyar (don't mistake it for Mahesh Manjrekar's Hathyar from 2002) is probably one of Hindi Cinema’s most underrated films and presents one of Sanjay's most stunning performances. Imagine a mixture of Naam and Vaastav and you get an idea of this film’s ambiance.

Vaastav (1999)
Sanjay's best performance ever! No two ways about that. Rarely did he devote his body and soul to a role as uncompromisingly as in Vaastav. He doesn’t just play Raghubhai, he embodies this character with all its facets. It is indescribable, you simply have to see this achievement yourself; all the awards Sanjay got for it were absolutely deserved.

Pitaah (2002)
Sanjay once considered this film as his 'Mother India'. Poor and dependent from the Thakur's grace, Rudra seems chance-less when the Thakur's sons bestially rape his little daughter and, thanks to their father's money, can expect to go scot-free. But as a father, Rudra is determined to fight for his daughter and for justice. Together with his co-star Nandita Das, Sanjay delivered one of his most intense and vulnerable performances.

Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (2002)
Sanjay's first Munnabhai – which of course is not identical to Raju Hirani's child-like gangster. Though even this don has his lovable sides – especially when he falls in love and gets his brain convolutions knotted just by looking at his queen of hearts. Here Sanjay presents his comedy skills in a most adorable way.

Kaante (2002)
Kaante is no simple popcorn movie, it demands full concentration. But the film is worth it – because of the forceful controversy between Sanjay and Amitabh Bachchan, because of Sanjay’s ubercool performance and because of his singing in "Rama Re" and "Chhod Na Re" (I simply adore his voice). And, of course, because of the hot item number "Ishq Samandar".

Shabd (2005)
I will never understand why, when it comes to naming Sanjay's best achievements on the silver screen, Shabd hardly ever is named. Sanjay is brilliant as the introvert and schizophrenic writer Shaukat who in the end cracks completely – an unforgettable scene where Sanjay seems to break the line between acting and being. Shaukat is probably his most ambitious role to date, and he shapes it with touching sensitivity.

Knock Out (2010)
Too bad this film suffered from the rip-off controversy around its release. Too bad also for the fabulous protagonists Sanjay and Irrfan who never met on the sets but nevertheless delivered their dialogues as if they did interact directly – a top achievement! Sanjay plays his part masterfully, with calm and considerate serenity and sometimes with a little twinkle in his eye. Indeed, this man should never be written off.

Check this link for more pics from Sanju's movies named here:
Sanjay Dutt completes 30 years in the film industry

On Mother's Day - A Tribute to Sanju's Mother Nargis

On May 3, it was 30 years ago that the legendary actress Nargis passed away. Her memory lives on in the hearts of the people who knew her or saw her in her films. As Mother India, she became an unforgettable icon. To celebrate and honor the actress let's take a look at her life and some of the highlights of her career!

Nargis was born in Kolkata on June 1, 1929 as Fatima A. Rashid, daughter of director, singer and actress Jaddanbai and sister of actor Anwar Hussain. She started acting in movies when she was a child, already having taken up her artist name Nargis (= narcissus). Her first leading role she got at the age of fourteen in Taqdeer.

In the 1950's Nargis and Raj Kapoor formed a very popular jodi on the silver screen and were said to have a romance in real life too, though Raj was already married. Their most successful films included Aag, Andaz, Barsaat, Shree 420, Awara and Chori Chori.

While shooting for Mother India (1957), an Oscar-nominated film which made Nargis an undying star in Hindi Cinema, Nargis fell in love with Sunil Dutt who played her son in that movie. They got married on March 11, 1958, which was quite controversial because at that time it was very rare to have a Hindu-Muslim marriage. They couple had three children: Sanjay, Namrata and Priya.

After settling down, Nargis' appearances on screen became very rare, and 1967 after Raat Aur Din she ended her film career to dedicate her life to her family and to her charity activities. After suffering from pancreatic cancer Nargis passed away May 3, 1981 - just five days before the release of her son Sanjay's debut film Rocky. She was buried next to her mother's grave at Marine Drive Cemetary in Mumbai. In the village Mandhaulli near the district Yamunanagar (Haryana), a memorial on the banks of the river Yamuna reminds of Nargis who until today is ranking as one of the most charismatic and seductive actresses the Indian film industry ever had.

Check more pics and videos of Sanju's beautiful mother here:
Nargis - A Tribute on her 30th Death Anniversary