Ranbir Kapoor in Sanju and a file photo of Sanjay Dutt | Photo Credit: Instagram

Of the many films that took the box office by storm last year, it was Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju that not just earned commercial success but also won critical acclaim. The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor in and as Sanju, bringing to screen the life and times of Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt, won rave reviews but also received grave criticism on the grounds that the makers tried to “whitewash” Dutt's controversial image. The film dealt with different aspects of Dutt's life – from his relationship with his parents – Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt, to his many affairs, his tryst with drug and alcohol addiction, his time in prison and the 1993 Bombay blasts.

Months after the film's release as Ranbir continues to bag awards for his portrayal of Dutt in his biopic, Dutt opened up about the film's success and the fact that he's the first actor who's had a biopic made on him in his lifetime. In an interview with DNA, Dutt shared that while his story is a good one, it's also a sensitive one and Hirani was the right person to direct it. Adding that he's flattered and humbled that a biopic was made on him, Dutt averred that it also means that he must have had a crazy life.

He has been quoted as saying, “I was extremely flattered, proud and humbled to see a biopic on me. It means I must have had a crazy life. Everyone knows I have overcome all the odds and come back. I think it’s a good story and Raju Hirani was the right person to direct it. It’s a sensitive issue.”

Dutt further addressed the accusations of “whitewashing” the film has been facing ever since its release and told the tabloid, “I’m aware that a lot of people said it was an exercise in whitewashing. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. No one spends over Rs 50-60 crore to whitewash anyone’s image. My ‘whitewashing’ happened when the Supreme Court gave me a clean chit — saying I am not a terrorist.”

“Also, if the film didn’t have an element of truth, it wouldn’t have gone on to do a business of Rs 334.57 crore Surely, something in it struck a chord with the audience,” the tabloid quoted Dutt as saying.

On the film front now, while Ranbir will next star in Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra alongside Alia Bhatt, Dutt is busy with the promotions of his next film Kalank. Directed by Abhishek Varman, the film stars Madhuri Dixit, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur and Alia Bhatt in key roles.

