He was hopeful till end

As Sanjay Dutt hugged his family and friends and even waved to the media waiting near his house at Imperial building on Srimati Nargis Dutt Road before leaving for the TADA court at 9.30 am on Tuesday, his efforts to stay optimistic was evident. In fact, such was his composure that he even managed to give a piece of advice to the paparazzi. As Dutt left in his car, a tabloid photographer followed him on a motorcycle to get exclusives. Near Mahim dargah, he overtook Dutt8217;s car and hit a Tata Indica. Dutt rolled down his window, told the photographer to 8220;drive slowly and safely8221; and left after showing him a thumbs-up.

At 1.30 pm, when news about Dutt8217;s six-year jail term spread, Kavita Rodrigues, a councillor from Bandra, said, 8220;It is very unfair and I am upset. Sanjay is not a hardcore criminal.8221;

Neighbours from Apsara building, on condition of anonymity described him as 8220;childish8221; and believed that his was just an immature act the need to possess a gun.

Shaheen, an erstwhile actress, a neighbour and family friend, said, 8220;He has Rs 100 crore worth of projects in his booty right now. In four-and-a-half years, not just his career but the careers of all the heroines, starlets and everybody associated with those films will be affected.8221;

Later in the evening, at around 7.15 pm, his sisters, a pregnant Priya Dutt, Namrata and her husband Kumar Gaurav drove into the building but refrained from commenting. The Khar Police had deployed 35 police officials near his building. Significantly, Dutt didn8217;t wear his trade-mark blue shirt today, because a well-wisher had advised him to wear white.