The late Sunil Dutt serves as a reminder that true heroes don’t just act on screen — but also in real life.
Sunil Dutt was not only one of Bollywood’s most respected actors, but a seasoned politician as well. On June 6, the occasion of his birth anniversary, we not only remember him but also recall his life, which was marked with compassion, and commitment to humanity. Be it his unforgettable role in Mother India to his walk for peace across the nation, Sunil Dutt’s legacy remains unmatched, and goes much beyond cinema and politics. His humanitarian work, which ignited hope of the people he served, cannot be forgotten.
Sunil Dutt was born in 1929 in present-day Pakistan, and his early life was shaped by the Partition and its trauma, which led to him having deep empathy for displaced and marginalized communities. With iconic films like Sujata, Waqt, and Padosan under his list of works, he is known to be one of the most loved actors of his generation. However, it was his role as Birju – a rebellious son brought to justice by his mother – in Mother India (1957) that got him all the love, and reflected his own real life marked by devotion to justice and family.
In 1987, Sunil Dutt’s humanitarian spirit came alive when he walked from Mumbai to Amritsar — a journey spanning over 2,000 kilometers — in a Pad Yatra for peace and communal harmony. With folded hands and a white kurta, he urged for unity during the height of Punjab’s insurgency and asked people to choose dialogue over division. His efforts were widely respected by citizens across communities.
With a desire to serve, he entered politics and was elected five times as a Member of Parliament from Mumbai North-West. Under the UPA government in 2004, he also served as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. He not just imbibed star power into politics but also earned credibility through his service. Be it slum rehabilitation to youth empowerment, he took up causes and helped citizens seeking help.
When his son, actor Sanjay Dutt, got embroiled in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, the most public test of Sunil Dutt’s humanity came forth. Nonetheless, he stood by his son through all the media and legal battles, and made sure that justice, not judgment, prevailed.
Before he passed away in 2005, he founded the Nargis Dutt Foundation, in memory of his beloved wife and actress Nargis, who succumbed to cancer. Since then, the organisation has provided medical aid and cancer treatment to thousands of citizens.
To say the least, the name of Sunil Dutt is associated with care and human upliftment, and he serves a reminder that true heroes don’t just act on screen — but also in real life.
