Sanjay Dutt, the Bollywood icon, has recently shared a harrowing moment from his past, recalling the depths of his struggle with drug addiction. In a candid conversation on The Himanshu Mehta Show, Dutt revealed the turning point that led him to seek help, marking what he describes as being clean for 40 years now.
Dutt recounted waking up one morning and being startled by his reflection. "I woke up, went to the bathroom, and I saw myself, and I got scared," he said. "I could see I was dying. My face looked like something else". This startling realization pushed him to seek help from his father, the late Sunil Dutt. "So I went to my father (Sunil Dutt) for help at that time, and he helped me and stood by me".
Following his father's support, Dutt was sent to a rehab in America, where he spent two years. He considers himself lucky to have had that opportunity. Reflecting on his time in rehab, Dutt described a transformative experience. "In those two years, I went out with the counselors, I went by the lake, I had barbecues," he shared. "I was more interactive, more talkative. I was talking about cinema, talking about this, that, everything". This period allowed him to appreciate life's simple pleasures and realize what he had been missing. "Instead of looking at this beautiful lake, having a barbecue, running a marathon on the highways, taking bike rides, this was something else, something I had never experienced for so many years. And I said, 'No matter what, this is the life I want. Not what I was living.' That was the turning point". He has been clean for 40 years now.
Dutt's life has been marked by significant challenges, including his battle with drug addiction and, more recently, his fight with lung cancer. In 2020, he was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, a diagnosis that initially left him shaken. He experienced breathlessness and was hospitalized, where further investigations revealed the underlying condition. Dutt later revealed that, after his diagnosis, he "cried for over two-three hours" thinking about his family.
Despite the challenges, Dutt faced his cancer battle with resilience. He underwent an aggressive treatment plan, including chemotherapy, and maintained a positive attitude throughout. He even continued to stay active, cycling and playing badminton after chemotherapy sessions. By October 2020, he announced that he was cancer-free, a testament to his determination and the effectiveness of his treatment.
In addition to his personal struggles, Dutt's life has been filled with professional highs and lows. His career has spanned decades, with memorable performances in films like K.G.F: Chapter 2. He has also faced legal controversies, including the 1993 Bombay bombings case.
Dutt's willingness to share his experiences, both the difficult and the triumphant, serves as an inspiration to many. He emphasizes the importance of seeking help and making a conscious decision to change. He also promotes cancer awareness, stressing that it is not a death sentence if detected and addressed early. Now, four years after beating lung cancer, Dutt maintains a rigorous fitness routine, working out for three hours a day and doing 50 push-ups in one go.
