Actor clicks with nature as he gets behind the lens
Bollywood bad boy Sanjay Dutt shows his artistic side, writes Chris Newbould
Sanjay Dutt, the man known as much for his headline-grabbing past as his film talent, paid a flying visit to Dubai on Sunday to publicise his latest role, and for once he wasn’t playing one of the hardman characters audiences go crazy over. No, his latest gig was a more relaxed “clicky” affair.
Dutt, who has a colourful past and first appeared on screen in 1981 in Rocky, was indulging his passion for photography. For the next month, he will be travelling around Europe and Africa, and posting his venture on social media.
“My wife keeps telling me I should publish a book of my photography, so maybe, maybe. Who knows?”
Dutt admits he has had a long love affair with the visual art form. “I’ve always loved photography, right from being a child,” he says. “I’ve done a lot of landscape photography and then, when our kids were born, I started doing a bit of portrait photography too, but what I really love are landscapes and nature.
“I’ve always been fascinated by nature and recently have decided to share my passion with those around me, through photography.”
He will doubtless be hoping to repeat the success of a recent trip to Africa, where he says he took his favourite shot to date while on safari. “It’s just about being in the right place at the right time,” he says, echoing an oft-repeated truth.
Sadly, Dutt won’t have time to turn his creative eye on Dubai during his brief visit, though he knows where he’d like to go when he does get the chance.
“I think I’d go to the Spice Market or the Gold Souk,” he says. “I like very candid photos.”
Of course, it’s not unusual for actors to take their turn behind the camera as a director but a move into still photography is less common, and raises the question as to whether this could be Dutt’s first step towards a behind-thecamera career.
“I think maybe in the next couple of years I may move in that direction,” he admits. “It’s just a question of getting the right time and the right script.”
He is quick to refute any suggestion his eye for photography may bring a criticism of the artistic direction of the films in which he appears.
“I’m not that guy, not at all,” he says, assertively. “If someone tells me I’ve done it right, I’m happy with that.”
While Dutt’s travels are not over, fans won’t have to wait too long before they see their idol on-screen again.
His latest project, the revenge drama Bhoomi, will be
Dutt says a future move to the director’s chair is a ‘maybe,’ depending on the right time and kind of script
in cinemas in September, and if the film’s director is to be believed, audiences should be in for a treat.
Back in April, Omung Kumar teased: “Sanjay has given his best performance to date and I am glad that we are increasing the anticipation.”