Sanjay Dutt

A line spoken by Dutt's character in Dhurandhar, unfavourably comparing Baloch people to crocodiles, was denounced as insulting and stereotyping an entire community. A legal notice followed by a petition before the Gujarat High Court sought its removal or modification.

State of the evidence

Legal notice followed by a petition to the Gujarat High Court documented

Attribution

Actor delivering the disputed line; creative responsibility shared with writers and producers

The song Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke from KD: The Devil, featuring Sanjay Dutt and Nora Fatehi, drew criticism for lyrics and choreography deemed vulgar and objectifying. The NCW summoned Dutt, who appeared on 27 April 2026 and submitted a written apology.

State of the evidence

Summons, appearance and official apology documented

Attribution

Participant in the song, with creative responsibility disputed

The Delhi High Court temporarily prohibited Cartel Bros, a company backed by Sanjay Dutt, from using "Godfather" or variants for its whisky, following an application by Devans Modern Breweries, the longstanding owner of the trademark for alcoholic beverages.

State of the evidence

Interim injunction documented

Attribution

Investor/public backer of the defendant company, with no independent personal liability established

Shemaroo Entertainment sent a legal notice to Sanjay Dutt, Manyata Dutt and director Deva Katta, disputing their right to produce the Hindi remake Prassthanam and claiming ownership of the relevant rights.

State of the evidence

Legal notice documented

Attribution

Producer directly targeted alongside Manyata Dutt and Deva Katta

While serving his sentence at Yerwada, Dutt was granted several periods of parole and furlough, followed by sentence remissions that led to his release in 2016. Activists and petitioners denounced preferential treatment linked to his celebrity status.

State of the evidence

Multiple temporary releases, PIL and official responses documented

Attribution

Beneficiary of contested administrative decisions

The release of Sanju, a biopic about Dutt's life, prompted criticism that the film minimised certain aspects of his involvement with underworld figures and shifted some responsibility onto the media or people around him.

State of the evidence

Critical controversy and director's responses documented

Attribution

Subject of a reputational debate surrounding a biographical film with which he cooperated

Dutt challenged the publication of Sanjay Dutt: The Crazy Untold Story of Bollywood's Bad Boy by Yasser Usman, stating that he had never authorised it and that some passages relied on tabloids or rumours. His lawyers sent a legal notice to the author and publisher Juggernaut.

State of the evidence

Legal notice and public responses documented

Attribution

Responsibility as complainant and subject of the book

Producer Shakeel Noorani accused Dutt of abandoning the film Jaan Ki Baazi after receiving an advance of approximately ₹50 lakh, then failing to repay the sums owed. Noorani also claimed to have received threatening calls from underworld figures demanding that he drop the dispute, allegedly on Dutt's behalf. The case led to several court appearances and warrants.

State of the evidence

Private complaint, professional arbitration and court warrants documented

Attribution

Alleged contractual liability and intimidation

As he entered politics, Dutt stated that married women should not retain their father's surname and that failing to adopt their husband's surname would be disrespectful towards him. His remarks particularly targeted his sister Priya Dutt, prompting criticism from activists and minister Renuka Chowdhury.

State of the evidence

Public statement and political reactions documented

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility for a public statement

At Samajwadi Party rallies, Dutt repeatedly made remarks about Chief Minister Mayawati, notably involving "jadu ki jhappi/pappi". FIRs were registered in Pratapgarh, Barabanki and Bijnore; The Indian Express reported that the new Bijnore case was then the fourth election-related FIR against Dutt.

State of the evidence

Multiple FIRs and public apologies documented

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility for campaign speeches

Sanjay Dutt and Manyata's marriage faced several challenges in 2008. Goa authorities investigated the residence certificate used for registration, while a man claiming to be Manyata's first husband challenged the validity of their union and prompted proceedings against the couple.

State of the evidence

Administrative investigation and judicial proceedings documented

Attribution

Dutt was a party to a civil status controversy, with no final finding of guilt

In 2002, a special court in Mumbai heard a tape which the prosecution claimed contained telephone conversations from November 2000 between Chhota Shakeel and several film personalities, including Sanjay Dutt. Police subsequently released extracts/transcripts, reigniting the controversy over links between Bollywood and the underworld.

State of the evidence

Tape submitted by the prosecution and played in court; content attributed to Dutt by police/prosecution

Attribution

Alleged link with an organised crime figure, without a separate conviction of Dutt on that basis

Sanjay Dutt first became seriously involved with the justice system in 1982 following a drug possession case, against a background of severe drug addiction. He spent several months in custody before being sent to a rehabilitation centre in the United States.

State of the evidence

Arrest and detention reported by several retrospective sources

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility