Birthday Special: 10 unknown facts about Sunil Dutt

The legendary actor, producer, director and politician Sunil Dutt turns 84 today. Though, he is not with us anymore, he is still remembered on this lovely day. With his enigmatic screen presence and wonderful performances, Sunil Dutt has left his mark in the world of Indian cinema forever.

Born on June 6, 1929, Sunil Dutt shot to fame with his debut movie Railway Platform in 1955. Besides Mother India, Dutt starred in many successful films like Sadhna, Gumraah, Waqt, Padosan, Khaandaan and many more.

He married his Mother India co-star Nargis. They have two daughters Priya Dutt, Namrata Dutt and a son Sanjay Dutt.   

We pay tribute to the legendary actor with these 10 lesser known facts about him. Have a look.
  

Sunil Dutt’s real name was Balraj Dutt. He was born in Jhelum, Punjab (now in Pakistan).

  

He was 18 when he was caught in between the India-Pakistan partition riots. His life was saved by a young man named Jacob and his family.
  

Sunil Dutt’s first job was as an RJ on the Hindi service of radio Ceylon.

  

During his stint as an RJ, he had to interview Nargis but the show was cancelled as Sunil Dutt could not utter a single word in front of her.
  

Sunil Dutt who played Nargis’s son in Mother India saved Nargis from a fire on the sets. They fell in love and got married.
  

  

In an era when dacoit films were a rage, Sunil Dutt was the favourite dacoit. He played a dacoit in many movies like Mother India, Mujhe Jeene Do, Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaye.
  

After Nargis died of pancreatic cancer, he founded the Nargis Dutt Foundation in her memory to cure cancer patients.

  

Sunil Dutt launched Sanjay Dutt’s career with the film Rocky in 1981 which was a success.

  

Sunil Dutt shared screen space with his son Sanjay Dutt for the first time in the 2003 hit Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. They had appeared earlier in Rocky (1981) and Kshatriya (1993) but had no scenes together.