Sunil Dutt: The end of a yatra

He used to call me Lataji. We were born in the same year in 1929. His birthday’s coming up next month too.

He came home whenever he was upset about something. I used to tell him my problems and he used to share his. We called each other back and forth several times during the time he took his daughter to America, when she was unwell.

He attended the recordings of films such as Reshma aur Shera and Mujhe Jeene Do, which he had produced. He would sit down with me and explain the situation in the recording room. He was very attached to music.

I haven’t seen him angry, though he always spoke his mind and never kept secrets.

I was never interested in politics and he knew it. But I often told him to avoid paidal yatras (campaigning on foot) when he was in his constituency. I was really happy when he won the elections last year and became the Sports Minister. I think he deserved it.

There were many occasions when I didn’t meet him at rakhi either, but I think that I have lost a brother.

Balasaheb Thackeray

Sunil Dutt and I were old friends, just like relatives.

I was shocked to hear the news of his sad demise. With his death, I have lost a personal friend who used to bring our mehfils alive.

On two previous occasions he survived, but finally lost the battle with time.

I don’t even remember when we met first. Soon, we became good friends and even our families came close. Nargis, too, used to come to our residence several times.

There were occasions when Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Kumar used to come to Matoshree and we used to chat for hours together on everything under the sun. Unfortunately, I have lost both of them now.

I would also say that Dutt loved Congress a lot but that the party insulted him towards the end of his life. He was very hurt with the insult.

Naushad Ali

Director Mehboob Khan wanted my approval when he was casting his three heroes—Rajendra Kumar, Raj Kumar and Sunil Dutt—in Mother India. Everything depended on my yes or no. I told Mehboob saab that all three boys were very good. After Mother India, the trio used to treat Mehboob saab as they would treat a father.

Sunil Dutt was a fine human being. I knew his wife Nargis from her childhood days. When I used to go to Chandanbhai’s (Nargis’ father) house, she was still a schoolgirl.

I live on Carter Road and he lived a stone’s throw away on Pali Hill. He never turned down an invitation to come home. He once took up the responsibility of organising a programme for Ghalib’s centenary celebrations in Delhi. ‘‘Naushad saab—izzat ki baat hai (It’s a matter of prestige).’’ I then called upon Rafi, Talat (Mehmood) and Lata to teach them songs based on Ghalib’s poetry and we set off for Delhi.

I also remember the time of Nargis’ funeral. She expressed one wish before her death. She asked Dutt, ‘‘Meri ek baat manenge? (Will you hear out one wish?)’’ And when Dutt answered in the affirmative, she said, ‘‘Meri kabr meri ma ki patiyaane par honi chahiye (Please let me be buried near my late mother’s feet).’’

There was a huge ruckus about whether there would be burial or a cremation, since Nargis was a Muslim married to a Hindu. The matter had reached Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister. Several Hindus raised their hackles since Dutt decided on a Muslim funeral as per her last wish. In fact, he even read the namaaz at her burial, and therein lies his greatness. Allah unko swarg mein jagah de (May Allah give him place in heaven)

Waheeda Rahman

The last time I met Sunil Dutt was on the sets of the TV show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai. Then, a month ago, he called for the number of an NGO, because he wanted to help. He was an incredibly courageous man, a secular person who always celebrated all festivals on the set, and he never did it to show off.

Boman Irani

His first day on the sets of Munnabhai MBBS after 16 years was also my first day on a film set. To make me feel better, he actually feigned nervousness. He always wanted to sit and eat together and talk about cinema. He had grown accustomed to seeing me bald so at the premiere, when he saw me with hair, he pretended not to recognise me.

Nalini Jayavant

I was his first heroine. From the time he was an announcer on Radio Ceylon, Sunil wanted to act. He would hang around the sets of my film Railway Platform and ask me to get him a role. When the producer was looking for a leading man, I suggested Sunil’s name and it worked out. That was the only film we did together. Earlier this year, at the Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, he got up on stage and motioned towards me saying, ‘‘See her? She was my first heroine.’’ I was touched.

Feroz Khan

He was a compassionate, principled and noble man who was always there to help someone in need. He used to travel to the border and entertain the jawans long before such acts were covered by the media.

Dr Rafiq Zakaria

He did not recognise any communal distinctions. I’ve often seen him stand up for the rights of Muslims. During the 1992 riots, he went into Mumbai’s Muslim ghettos and reassured the poor that there would be no retaliation from the Hindus.

Mallika Sarabhai

It is amazing how my only commercial film has been with Sunil Dutt. It was called Himalaya se Ooncha and although I don’t have too many memories attached to my working relationship with him back then, there surely has been enough correspondence in the years that followed. Sunil Dutt and Nargis were friends of my parents, Vikram and Mrinalini Sarabhai. In fact, when my first Hindi film offer came up, my father called up Sunil Dutt. He wanted to speak with him and know if I was making the right decision.

Post-riots, we worked together for Sadbhavna ke Sipahee, a group that spreads the message of peace through padayatras and seminars across the country. He, of course, was a very willing participant. Just three days ago, I sent him a thank-you note since he sent me birthday greetings.