B’wood expresses solidarity with Sanjay

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Bollywood came together to support Munnabhai after the Supreme Court verdict that sentenced the actor to five years in jail. Ever since the verdict was announced on Thursday morning, Sanjay Dutt had friends from the industry visiting his house and showing their support. Among the early ones to arrive were Bunty Walia and a couple of other producers who rushed to be with Sanjay.

Rajkumar Hirani, who has directed Sanjay in the Munnabhai series, was greatly disturbed by the news. The official spokesperson of Hirani’s latest film P.K. in which Sanjay has an important role, said, “Raju sir has tremendous respect for Sanjay and vice versa. And this is going to be a personal setback for Raju Sir. He is greatly disturbed as they are very good friends. He has emotionally been in touch with the Dutt family and wants to go out of his way to help them. He cannot imagine Munnabhai without him.”
Pankaj Kharbanda, who was Sanjay’s manager at one point in time and is known to be extremely close to him, said he was in a deep state of shock. “I really can’t comment on the verdict, but I am with Sanjay in these times of crisis. I am extremely close to him and we did exchange couple of messages after the verdict and he too said he was shocked,” he said.
Mahesh Bhatt, who has worked with Dutt closely in Naam, said that it was a blow to everyone who was close to the actor. “We were hoping that he wouldn’t have to serve a jail sentence and for a happy ending, but alas life is not a movie. I don’t know about the legal options and the way ahead. But while speaking to Sanjay last night, I could sense that he was quite anxious,” he said.
Director Kunal Kohli said that justice hadn’t been done. “What about the real culprits behind the blasts? It is a sad day for Bollywood,” he said.