Even as ‘Sanju’, the biopic of Sanjay Dutt, has been largely well-received by critics who’ve lauded Ranbir Kapoor’s performance, a former editor of this paper, Mark Manuel has a different take on it. Mark says that he’s more relieved that actor Paresh Rawal’s performance in the film as Sanjay’s father, Sunil Dutt, has been appreciated because Sunil Dutt was a fine man, maybe even one of the finest. To quote Mark: “In my book, he (Sunil Dutt) is a real hero. What agonies the man has suffered. The wife dying painfully of cancer after his tragic struggle to save her. The son taking the family to hell and back with his addiction to drugs. A political career that was all uphill because he was a good man. And good men don’t survive in Indian politics. Especially with knives stabbed in their back…all through which Sunil Dutt remained sunny and cheerful on the outside. I met him just once. He had come to address a political rally at Flora Fountain. His foot was in a cast. He had, like a true hero, survived a plane crash in Nashik with minor injuries. But was out of hospital and hobbling around with a crutch soon after because he had political responsibilities to fulfil for the Congress Party. On learning that my newspaper office (the ‘Afternoon’) was just down the road from the rally venue, Sunil Dutt limped over slowly to meet me. I thought he wanted me to interview him. Surprised, he said, “I just came to say ‘Hello’ and have a cup of tea. Won’t you offer me one?” My respect for him went skyrocketing. When he was leaving, I walked Sunil Dutt to the gate. A tall, proud figure, slightly stooped because of the injured foot, immaculately dressed in white kurta-pajama, smiling warmly and courteously greeting everybody from liftman to watchman. Then, the girls of my office, all young journalists between 18 and 24, approached shyly and asked if they might get a picture. Sunil Dutt beamed. After the picture was taken, he whispered in my ear naughtily, “You are a lucky man to be working with such young, beautiful girls. Have you seen the women I have to work with in Parliament?” I will never forget that incident.”