Book Review: Sanjay Dutt - The Crazy Untold Story of Bollywood’s Bad Boy by Yasser Usman

Introduction

Source: Amazon.in

ISBN: 978-9386228581

Genre: Non-Fiction / Biography

Publishers: Juggernaut

Price: Rs. 499/- ( I got the book for review from the publisher)

Behind the Book

India’s top Bollywood biographer tells the uncensored story of Sanjay’s roller-coaster life – from the tragic deaths of both his mother and his first wife to the time he smuggled heroin into the US and from the painful rehab he had to go through to his curious phone calls to gangster Chhota Shakeel.

About the Author

Yasser Usman is an award-winning TV journalist and the author of bestselling biographies Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India’s First Superstar and Rekha: The Untold Story.

With the recent death of Bollywood actress Sridevi, mothers dying before seeing their children's debut movies was a hot topic of discussion when I realised in this book that history had repeated itself even in the case of Sanjay Dutt. His mother, renowned Bollywood actress Nargis Dutt never lived to see his debut movie Rocky according to this book and that for me, was one of the most poignant moments of the book.

Sanjay Dutt's life has been more or less like an open book. He has been someone who has worn his heart on his sleeve and lived life on his terms, or rather, he still does. He has been a rebel, never to bother with the societal norms and diktat of life and that is clearly reflecting all throughout this biography.

This book is based largely on the various articles published about Sanjay Dutt till now to give us a glimpse in his life. The author uses the information to make a story board, replete with some rare pictures of the star with his family to create a page turner. His life has everything that a proper Bollywood blockbuster Masala film promises of - action, drama, romance and tragedy. Written an honest tone, this book states what perhaps we all already know about the star's star-crossed life.What it also tells us, is the emotional quotient of the Dutts. Some very touching lines in the book for me were when Sunil Dutt seems to say dejectedly that only daughters are ours in what seems to be a moment of anger. Other one has to be the way Sanjay Dutt tested his brother-in-law before accepting him as a part of the family.

We all go through various ups and downs in life, what is commendable about Sanjay Dutt is the way he is not only apologetic about all the mistakes he has done but he has also risen back from the lowest phases of his life like a phoenix, that is truly inspirational.

Strongly recommended for all Bollywood lovers and Sanjay Dutt fans, this book is a entertaining read.

Foodie Verdict

This book is like Sitaphal Kheer - rare combination but that is truly un-put-down-able!

Source: BetterButter

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