Sanjay Balraj Dutt (born 29 July 1959) is an Indian film actor and producer known for his work in Hindi cinema (Bollywood). The son of veteran Hindi film actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt, he made his acting debut in 1981 and has since appeared in more than 100 Hindi films. Although Dutt has enjoyed great success as a lead actor in genres ranging from romance to comedy, it has been the roles of gangsters, thugs and police officers in the drama and action genres that have won him much appreciation. The Indian media and audiences alike popularly refer to him as Deadly Dutt for his larger-than-life portrayals of such characters.

Sanjay Dutt made his Bollywood movie debut with the box office hit Rocky in 1981. He went on to star in Vidhaata, the highest grossing Hindi film of 1982 along with the super hit Main Awara Hoon (1983). In 1985 he shot for his first film in three years, Jaan ki Baazi (1985). This was Sanjay's first film post what is now referred to as his drug phase years, when personal problems and a number of films that had been completed before his departure to the USA flopped at the box office, after which he had contemplated not returning to films. Jaan ki Baazi marked a comeback for Dutt and he appeared in successful films throughout the 80s such as Imaandaar, Inaam Dus Hazaar, Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1988), Mardon Wali Baat (1988), Ilaaka (1989), Hum Bhi Insaan Hain (1989), Kanoon Apna Apna (1989), and Taaqatwar (1989).  The 1986 blockbuster Naam was Dutt's first major critical success and a turning point in his career, the film firmly cemented him amongst India's finest young mainstream leading actors as he earned praise for his portrayal of an illegal immigrant in Dubai who spirals into a life of crime. His performances in both Kabzaa (1988) and J. P. Dutta's 1989 Hathyar. were also both well received by critics although both films only managed average collections at the box office. In the late 1980s he was seen in a number of multi-starrers alongside actors like Govinda, Mithun, Dharmendra, Jackie Shroff and Sunny Deol.  His successes continued in the 1990s, with films that include Tejaa, Khatarnaak, Zahreelay, Thanedaar, Khoon Ka Karz, Yalgaar, Gumrah, Sahibaan, and Aatish: Feel the Fire. He went on to star in some of the most era-defining Indian films of the early 1990s such as Sadak, Saajan (for which he was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award) and Khal Nayak, for which he earned his second Filmfare Best Actor Award nomination. Three weeks before its release, however, in April 1993, he was arrested, charged with involvement in the 1993 Mumbai bombings. Dutt was unable to act for the next four years due to his subsequent arrests and bails. Although many incomplete films were released featuring Dutt during this time, all of them were unsuccessful except for the 1994 hit Aatish with Aditya Pancholi, which was completed before his 1993 arrest.

Ask a question about this article.
what did he do after that?