SANJAY DUTT BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, MOVIES & FACTS

Sanjay Dutt, born 29 July 1959, is one of Indian cinema's most enduring stars, with a career spanning more than four decades. He made his acting debut in Rocky (1981), directed by his father, and went on to headline landmark films including Naam, Khalnayak, Vaastav, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Agneepath.

Known for his rugged screen presence and remarkable comebacks, Dutt has appeared in over 135 films across Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi and Punjabi cinema. In 2025 he added another milestone with Dhurandhar, which is reported to be his highest-grossing release to date.

Early Life

Sanjay Balraj Dutt was born on 29 July 1959 in Bombay (now Mumbai), which makes him 67 years old in 2026. He is the son of actor-politician Sunil Dutt and legendary actress Nargis, and has two sisters, Priya Dutt and Namrata Dutt. He was schooled at The Lawrence School, Sanawar.

Career

Dutt made his acting debut with Rocky (1981), directed by his father Sunil Dutt. Tragically, his mother Nargis passed away just days before the film's premiere. His breakthrough came with Naam (1986), and he rose to stardom in the 1990s with hits like Thanedaar (1990), Saajan (1991) — co-starring Salman Khan (see our Salman Khan biography) — Sadak (1991) and Khalnayak (1993). His performances in Saajan and Khalnayak earned him Filmfare Best Actor nominations.

He won his first Filmfare Best Actor award for Vaastav: The Reality (1999). The 2000s brought him a new generation of admirers with Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), and he was chilling as Kancha Cheena in Agneepath (2012). He has frequently shared the screen with contemporaries such as Ajay Devgn (see our Ajay Devgn biography), and appeared alongside Aamir Khan in PK (see our Aamir Khan biography).

Across his career he has won two Filmfare Awards, three Screen Awards and one Global Indian Film Award, with 135+ films across Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi and Punjabi cinema.

In 1993 he was arrested under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. He was acquitted of terrorism charges but convicted under the Arms Act, sentenced to five years in 2013, and released in February 2016.

His life inspired the biopic Sanju (2018), directed by Rajkumar Hirani, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Dutt (see our Ranbir Kapoor biography).

Recent Work

Dutt played the menacing Adheera in KGF: Chapter 2 (2022) and appeared in Leo (2023). In 2025 he starred in Dhurandhar, which is reported to be his highest-grossing release to date. The sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026), is slated for release in 2026. He is also linked to upcoming projects such as Raja Shivaji and Aakhri Sawal, according to reports.

Personal Life

Dutt has been married three times: to Richa Sharma (1987–1996), Rhea Pillai (1998–2008), and Manyata Dutt (2008–). He has three children: Trishala, Shahraan and Iqra.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official trailer of Dhurandhar below:

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Sanjay Dutt?
Sanjay Dutt was born on 29 July 1959, which makes him 67 years old in 2026.

What was his debut film?
His debut film was Rocky (1981), directed by his father Sunil Dutt. His mother Nargis passed away just days before its premiere.

Why was he in jail?
He was arrested in 1993 under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. Acquitted of terrorism charges, he was convicted under the Arms Act, sentenced to five years in 2013 and released in February 2016.

Who played him in Sanju?
Ranbir Kapoor portrayed Sanjay Dutt in the 2018 biopic Sanju, directed by Rajkumar Hirani.