Sunil Dutt

Actor, social activist and politician. Sunil Dutt wore many hats and excelled in a plethora of roles that came his way - both on and off screen. Born on June 6th, 1929, Sunil Dutt grew up as Balraj Dutt in a family that had survived the Partition of India. A student of Mumbai's Jai Hind college, he first started off as radio show host and celebrity interviewer, which led to his first encounter with the glamor world. Interestingly, wife-to-be Nargis was one of the celebrities he met in the course of his work.

Soon, Dutt got a chance to enter the film-world, when director Ramesh Saigal offered him the hero's role in his Nalini Jaywant starrer 'Railway Platform' (1955).

'Ek Hi Raasta' (1956), marked the start of a seven-film long association with B R Chopra.

Dutt's true breakthrough came with Mehboob Khan's magnum opus 'Mother India' (1957). His portrayal of Birju, Nargi's rebellious younger son, portrayed a raw, urgent energy. Dutt's association with Nargis in the movie resulted in a more serious one, when he married her after the release of the film.

Dutt's role in women-oriented films like 'Sadhna' (1958), 'Sujata' (1959) and 'Main Chup Rahungi' (1962) were well-appreciated. Noted filmmakers like Bimal Roy, Hrishikesh Mukherji and B R Chopra dared to defy Sunil Dutt's established rebellious Birju image and cast him as a sensitive lover.

Dutt turned producer in the early sixties with a couple of offbeat movies - 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke' (1963), where heroine Leela Naidu has an adulterous relationship and 'Mujhe Jeene Do' (1963) where he played a dacoit.

In his cinematic association with B R Chopra, Dutt gave three big hits in the sixties - 'Gumraah' (1963), 'Waqt' (1965) and 'Humraaz' (1967). He also worked with South Indian filmmakers, which resulted in emotion-heavy, rural-based hits with Nutan like 'Khandaan' and 'Milan'.

In 1967, he had a hat-trick of hits with 'Milan', 'Meherban' and 'Humraaz'.

His role of a buffoon in Mehmood's 'Padosan' (1968) was much appreciated.

Starred in the shelved movie Chhaya Path's "Ghulaam"(1974) Starring Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Madhushala,Jyoti Arya, Ajit, Ranjeet,Bindu,Music Ravindra Jain, Produced by Jagdish R. Gupta, Directed by Chand.

Starred in the shelved movie Pratiggya Pictures untitled movie in 1975. Starring Sunil Dutt, Produced by Ajit Singh Deol, Directed by Prakash Mehra.

Starred in the shelved film Noorani Productions "Watan" (1976). Starring Sunil Dutt, Sanjeev Kumar, Sanjay Khan, Rekha, Sameer Khan, Reena Roy Prem Nath, Amjad Khan,Shakti Kapoor Music by Shankar Jaikishen ,Directed by Kanak Mishra.

Starred in the shelved movie Maya Deep International's "Krishan Kartar Karim "(1977) Starring Sunil Dutt, Reena Roy, Sanjeev Kumar,Aradhana, Amjad Khan, Parishat Sahni,Mehmood, Hercules, Music by Kalyanji Anandji,Produced by Kan Karam Chand, Directed by Imtiaz Khan.

Starred in the shelved movie Kant Kumar Productions "Armaan"(1978).Starring Sunil Dutt,Randhir Kapoor, Neetu Singh,Asrani,Chadrashekhar,Prem Nath, Manju Bansal, Music by Rahul Dev Burman, Produced Kanta Kumar,Direcred by Ashok Roy.

Starred in the shelved film Anand Arts "Ganga Ka Beta" (1979) Starring Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Saira Banu, Reena Roy, Shakti Kapoor, Music Kalyanji Anandji, Directed by Kanak Mishra.

Starred in the shelved movie Gautam Pictures "Girftaar" (1981) Starring Sunil Dutt,Sanjeev Kumar,Jeetendra, Reena Roy, Amjad Khan, Music by R.D, Burman, Produced by Gautam Pictures, Directed by V.K.Sobti.12 Reels.

Was making the shelved film Ajanta Arts "Jab Pyar Hua" (1982) Starring Mithun Chakraborthy, Sanjay Dutt, Padmini Kholapure, Introducing Kamala Singh. Sunil Dutt had spotted Kamala at Seth studio's working as a receptionist. She wanted to be a actress. Sunil Dutt was to launch her as a actress. Music was by R.D. Burman, Produced and Directed by Sunil Dutt.

In 1983 actor producer Roopesh Kumar launched the film "Insaan Ki Awaaz". The film was going to be directed by Sunil Dutt. Starring Sunil Dutt,Sanjeev Kumar, Shatrughan Sinha,Zeenat Aman,Padmini Kholapure. The film got shelved for unknown reasons.

In 1986, daughter Priya traveled to New York to take a course in journalism. She lived with close family friends. While in New York she worked in a video film company learning how to edit films.

Starred in the shelved movie Manta Movies "Muqaddama (1991) Starring Sunil Dutt, Kabir Bedi, Aditya Pancholi,Madhavi,Moon Moon Sen, Farha Naaz, Anupam Kher, Music by Bappi Lahiri, Directed by Avtar Bhogal.