Sanjay Dutt’s conviction and eventual jail term has been very often discussed and debated. While the court saw him as guilty, quite a lot of people still believe that he was wrongly punished. It might take a while to settle that debate.
Meanwhile Dutt was released from Pune’s Yerwada Jail on February 25. He hasn’t made a lot of public appearances since then but took to the stage at the India Today Conclave and was in conversation with Rajdeep Sardesai.
The talk saw Dutt opening about his term, his experiences and even about his father. This is what he had to say.
“I am trying to get the grip of it, to feel free again but I think it’ll take some time.”
To feel free it will take a little time. It’s not just 5 years in jail but 23 years- @duttsanjay at #Conclave16 https://t.co/AfC9ECJy42
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
“My day used to start at 6 and I used to crib and I used to cry and I used to think about my family and kids.”
I used to crib, cry and think about my family and kids- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/wZJ8JxluYC
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
He talked about the not-so-edible food and called it “terrible”
Was given something called ‘rajgira’ to eat & it tastes really bad- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/j1dxjdeovG
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
“(With) Every paper bag I made 10 paise…”
The money that I got from making paper bags in jail, I gave it to my wife- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/or1J7Gbt3M
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
He talked about how his hands have become like rock
My hands have become like rock- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/1OMmHZAb78
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
He insisted on his patriotism as well
I am a patriot and I can never think of harming my beautiful country ever- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/GbO2dUtAcv
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
He said about his late father, “Before he died, he said I have always been proud of you…”
My father (Sunil Dutt) was always proud of me- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/RPXzaidwuf
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
Dutt revealed that he learned “not to be brash” and “the law of the land”
The 1993 incident has taught me lot of things- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/t3L4ZorXMU
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
When he was leaving jail, some officials said “Baba, we will miss you.”
The day I was being released, jail officials said ‘Baba we will miss you’- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/ahySS4BuTU
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
He even opened up about the difficulties he faced there
I was treated worst than any other convict. I felt I was back in the British days- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/xGpkj67IVZ
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
And opened up about one of his biggest fears
I didn’t wanted my kids to see me in jail uniform, it was a difficult time: @duttsanjay #Conclave16
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
And spoke about what he eventually wants from life
I don’t want to be Munnabhai or Khalnayak, I want to be Sanjay- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/FsrY9h93Cf
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
Dutt also said that he has found his silver lining
I have learnt a lot in Yerwada jail. I took my stay there positively- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/lAJNdIynrO
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
Also that he will not join politics
I will stay away from politics- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/SExdnNA2Qs
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
“Nobody should take their freedom for granted…”
Nobody should take freedom for granted- @duttsanjay #Conclave16 https://t.co/oywfdCCLpf
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
And said some things, that nobody knew, like his experience with LSD
Hallucinating after a dose of LSD, I imagining a lit wick on my father’s head: @duttsanjay at #Conclave16https://t.co/kLNCmtjaIQ
— India Today (@IndiaToday) March 18, 2016
You can follow the entire discussion at India Today.