Sanjay Dutt recently opened up about his arduous battle with addiction, revealing that there were moments when he “saw myself dying.” In a resurfaced video from the sets of his 1994 film Aatish, Dutt spoke candidly about hitting rock bottom and how his family’s support became crucial to his recovery.
Sanjay Dutt reflects on his drug struggle; says, “My director used to tell that don’t touch him”
Dutt said, “I think I saw myself dying. I have got fed up with the idea of hiding, running and people looking down at me and running into the bathrooms and stuff like that. I was falling sick so I decided and I said I need help from my family.” He also emphasised the role of physical activity in his healing, adding, “I think you should divert your attention. You should workout. There is nothing like working out. Physical activity has helped people. It gives a beautiful high better than anything else. There is no high better than life. Adrenaline is the biggest high in the world.”
The interview also brings to light a striking anecdote shared by actress Tanuja, who starred opposite Dutt in Aatish. She recounted, “My director used to tell that don’t touch him, I was supposed to slap him in one scene but don’t touch him, just sort of wave your hand in front of him. If you touch him, he’ll fall.” This remark underscores just how fragile Dutt’s physical and emotional state had become during that period.
In the same conversation, Pooja Bhatt, another co-actor in Aatish, spoke about Dutt’s earnest protective nature. Having known him from childhood, she remarked, “I know him since I was six. He would be constantly telling me, ‘Why are you wearing this? Please go to your room and sleep. You shouldn’t listen to elders talking and it has been like that since. I dread meeting him in a disco because he will ask, ‘What are you wearing? Why are you drinking? Why are you out so late?’ It is like that but I adore him. He is like a big lion, beneath that macho thing, he is a sweet, sensitive soul.”
Dutt’s descent into addiction began around 1980–81, following the debilitating illness and eventual passing of his mother, legendary actor Nargis. Her death profoundly impacted him, pulling him deeper into substance abuse. Over the years, he underwent multiple rehabilitation attempts both in India and abroad and slowly rebuilt his life and acting career with renewed determination.
This intimate reflection not only sheds light on the depths of Dutt’s personal struggle but also emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and support around mental health and addiction.
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