‘I DON’T FEAR MY KIDS WILL HATE ME’

Sanjay Dutt is back as a Bollywood hero — and he’s ready to share the story of his tough life with his twins

His never-say-die spirit is what keeps him going, says Sanjay Dutt, while in town to promote his recent release, Bhoomi, his comeback in a full-fledged role after three years.

“You have to forget what’s in the past and have to move on. You can’t live with all that has happened,” says Dutt, who has spent long years on the wrong side of the law in a weapons possession case, and has a history of drug abuse. “Whatever was there is a part of my life, which is gone, and I’ve moved on — I believe that’s the only way to deal with something like that.”

On this visit, Dutt looks unwell: weary eyes, sore throat, and 103 degrees fever. He begins the interview saying, “Sorry, I won’t be sounding too enthusiastic because I’m really not feeling well.” However, things are looking up for him, with a comeback movie, and a fulfilling family life.

Dutt is waiting for his sixyear-old twins — Iqra and Shahraan — to grow up so that he can narrate his story to them. Are there any apprehensions as to how they will react? “Honestly, I don’t fear that my kids will start hating me after knowing my story,” he replies. “That’s the truth, and they have to know it and live with it. I feel it’s better if they hear it from me than [from] somebody else. And, of course, once they know everything, they can learn from that, too.”

That Dutt is a doting father is well known, but he missed being with his kids on a lot of occasions. On how he’s making up for lost time, he says, “I spend a lot of time with them now. The period when I was in jail, they were too small. And if you ask me, I’d say I was lucky that it happened at that time.”

Have the kids seen his films? “Yeah, they have watched Munnabhai (2006), Policegiri (2013), and Mission Kashmir (2000) and they love it. They’re like, ‘Wow, papa is on TV.’ And that makes me the happiest,” says Dutt.

Asked if he wishes that he could undo anything, Dutt says, “When you’re going through a problem, you think that way, but once it’s over, I don’t think you should brood over it and think ‘I wish…’ or ‘if I could….’”

[My kids] have watched Munnabhai, Policegiri, and Mission Kashmir and they love it. They’re like, ‘Wow, papa is on TV.’ And that makes me the happiest SANJAY DUTT, ACTOR