Sanjay Dutt got released from jail a couple of weeks ago. Last week, he has been opening up about what it was like for him to be in jail. We are sure he must be really happy as he has been fighting this battle for more than 23 years. His first wife passed away and his dad passed away too, but Sanjay Dutt’s court case was yet to be resolved. Finally, he was convicted and had to serve a 42-month sentence at Pune’s Yerwada jail. Soon after his jail term started, Sanjay got to be in and out of jail due to some family releated issues. We are sure, it’s not the same for other normal prisoners, who are not celebrities. For normal people, once they go to jail they can get leave either when a close family member dies or when the prisoners themselves are badly sick. But Sanjay did get leave many times, which did angered a lot of people. 103 days before his prison term was meant to end, Sanjay got out on good behaviour. Here’s Sanjay Dutt talking abotu his time in jail and how it’s been 40 years since he has taken drugs.
Sanjay Dutt on finally being free
I was in solitary confinement. It will take a bit longer for me to feel free. The feeling of freedom is yet to sink in. I have been in and out of jail for the last 23 years. There were so many restrictions, permissions to be take. I am getting used to live life like a free man. The feeling is yet to hit me.
Sanjay on suffering mentally while in jail
They imprison you mentally more than physically. They tell you what to do and what not do in prison.
Sanjay on whether he got any special VIP treatment
I did not get any VIP treatment. In fact I was treated worse than normal inmates as everyone thought I was getting special treatment. The worse thing about jail was the food, it was terrible and not edible at all.
Sanjay on how his imprisonment haunted his family
It has haunted me all these years. It has haunted my family and especially my father. I am a patriot, my family is a patriot. I cannot think of harming my country. It did affect me a lot. But I thank people that they didn’t lose their faith in me and believed in me.
Sanjay on why he thinks he didn’t let his father, Sunil Dutt, down
I don’t think I let my father down. He knew I was not a terrorist. Before he died he told me that he was proud of me.
Sanjay on how he has no regrets on everything that has happened
I don’t have any regrets. I have learnt a lot in these years. It has taught me not to be brash. I have learnt to respect the law about our country and also have learnt about it. I think every citizen should know about the law of the country. But yes I do regret the day those weapons came into my house.
Sanjay on taking drugs
I am quite a shy person in real life. I got into the habit of drugs after my mother died and then it became chronic. I have done every drug there is. My dad didn’t understand what was wrong with me, he is from Punjab. But then one day I couldn’t handle anymore and my dad took me to hospital. From there I went to a rehab in the US. And it has been 40 years since that incident and I haven’t looked back.
Sanjay on why he was involved with the underworld
In those times everyone from Bollywood was involved with the underworld. Everyone was getting calls, threats. I got the weapon from a producer not from the underworld.
Sanjay on people should value their freedom
Don’t take freedom for granted. People should value it. Because I know what it truly means in all these years of my life. Freedom is more important than anything in life.