Sunil Dutt

Lady Luck was hard on the man who was noble and loved because of his sense of compassion for the needy. Sunil 'Balraj' Dutt was born in a village of Khurd (now in Pakistan)on 6th June, 1929 and lost his father at the age of 5. But that was not the end of hardships life would dole out to him.

He moved to India after the partition along with his family. He joined Jaihind College (Mumbai)as an undergraduate and worked his way through college.Perhaps the difficult times he faced taught him humility and benevolence inspite of his fame. As a blossoming actor he accepted whatever was given to him and was content doing heroine-oriented movies. Even in such films, he left leave his mark as a consummate actor.

Sunil Dutt's first film was 'Railway Platform' (1955) with Nalini Jaywant. But it was only Mehboob's 'Mother India' which brought him fame and recognition in the industry. He continued doing more heroine-oriented films like 'Sujata', 'Seema', 'Mera Saaya' and 'Amrapali'.In the later years, he launched his son Sanjay Dutt in 'Rocky' (1981). In the same year Nargis Dutt passed away due to Cancer. To commemorate her memory and help other cancer patients he established Nargis Dutt foundation.

Some of the other films produced by him during that time are 'Dard Ka Rishta' and 'Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi'. He turned politician. But not before proving his point and winning many awards like the Lifetime Achievement award in 1996. He also won the Best Actor awards for his performances in 'Mujhe Jeene Do' (1964) and 'Khaandan' (1966). Before his death, he was the Union Minister for Sports under Manmohan Singh goverment (2004-2009)

Politician

Sunil Dutt, the legendary actor who took to politics following his wife's death in 1981, died of heart attack, exactly a year after he became India's sports minister. He would have been 76 on June 6.Dutt, a hero to millions both in reel and real life, breathed his last even as he slept at his Bandra residence, sending shock waves in all over the country. He leaves behind his daughters Namrata and Priya and son Sanjay Dutt. His wife Nargis, an actress with whom he fell in love at first sight and married, died in 1981 after a prolonged battle against cancer.

Tens of thousands of people ranging from Bollywood stars and politicians to poor slum dwellers poured into his house for a final glimpse of the humble man who represented Mumbai North West constituency in the Lok Sabha, having won all five elections he contested. His body was taken to the cremation ground amid full-throated cries of "Sunil Dutt Zindabad!"

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, now in Russia, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who counted him as a family friend, were among the scores who paid their tributes to the dead man, calling him a gem of a human being. Striking a personal note, Gandhi recalled that the actor-turned-politician was constantly at her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi's side even when she was not in power.

India's 'nightingale' Lata Mangeshkar, who knew him for years, spoke for millions when she said: "He was a rare human being. People like him are difficult to find.""Dutt was the first among many others who worked outside the film industry to bring succour to so many people. I feel bereaved on behalf of all the people he had lived and worked for."

Fellow Congress MP and actor Govinda almost broke down when he reached the Dutt residence. So did many others including slum dwellers for whom he was the ultimate arbiter whenever the authorities came to demolish their simple homes.

Filmography

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