Priya Dutt Critiques ‘Sanju’: A Sister’s Perspective on the Biopic’s Shortcomings
While praising Ranbir Kapoor’s performance, Priya Dutt expresses disappointment over the film’s portrayal of her family and the depth of Sanjay Dutt’s life story.
Priya Dutt, sister of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, has voiced her reservations about the 2018 biographical film Sanju, directed by Rajkumar Hirani. In a conversation with journalist Vickey Lalwani, Priya expressed that the film failed to capture the essence of their family’s dynamics and the complexities of her brother’s life.
“I felt the movie didn’t do justice to my mum or my father,” Priya remarked, highlighting the superficial depiction of their parents, Nargis and Sunil Dutt. She believed that the film skimmed over the profound relationship between Sanjay and his father, missing an opportunity to delve deeper into their bond.
Despite considering reaching out to Hirani to share her concerns, Priya refrained, noting that the creative team had a different vision. She felt that this approach rendered parts of the film “a bit of a caricature,” lacking the authenticity she had hoped for.
On Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Sanjay Dutt, Priya had mixed feelings. While she appreciated his performance, stating, “I loved Ranbir Kapoor in it. He played Sanju very well,” she also felt that the film leaned more towards entertainment than a true biographical account. “It wasn’t really a biopic… The intensity was missing,” she added.
When she shared her thoughts with Sanjay, his response was reportedly indifferent, saying, “Now what?”
Sanju was a commercial success, grossing over ₹341 crore at the Indian box office. However, it faced criticism for omitting significant aspects of Sanjay Dutt’s life, including his relationships and political career, leading some to view it as a sanitized portrayal rather than an authentic biopic.
