When Sunil Dutt addressed Sanjay’s struggles: “My kismat failed him"

Veteran actor and politician Sunil Dutt once opened up with heartbreaking honesty about the personal turmoil he faced watching his son Sanjay Dutt’s life spiral into chaos. From drug addiction to legal troubles, Sanjay’s journey was riddled with missteps , yet through it all, Sunil stood firm beside him, not just as a father, but as a pillar of silent strength.
“Izzat Turned to Dust”: Watching a son fall
According to Indian Express, Sunil Dutt, who once lived a respected life as ‘chote Diwan saab’ in pre-Partition Pakistan, saw his carefully built legacy crumble as his son Sanjay was handcuffed in front of the world. Despite his own rise as a cinematic and political icon, Sunil couldn’t shield his family from life’s harshest blows. In his eyes, all the dignity he had earned seemed to vanish in the face of his son’s public downfall.
Boarding school, loss, and the drug spiral
Sanjay Dutt started smoking at the age of nine, prompting Sunil to send him to boarding school , a decision both later came to regret. Sanjay admitted that the early independence made him defiant, a trait that later contributed to his drug addiction. The turning point came after his mother, Nargis, passed away in 1981, a loss that further pushed him into substance abuse. “A child gets independent at boarding school,” Sanjay once said, reflecting on the roots of his addiction.
A Father’s love, despite society’s judgement
Sunil Dutt never denied that Sanjay may not fit society’s definition of an ideal man. Still, his support never wavered. “My kismat failed him,” he once said, as he hoped that even if life hadn’t brought Sanjay peace, maybe he would find “complete happiness” after his death — a father’s final, quiet wish for his troubled child. Sunil Dutt breathed his last on May 25, 2005.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt has the most awaited horror comedy film, ‘The Bhootnii,’ which is releasing on May 1.