Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has always shared a famously volatile and candid relationship with the paparazzi, a dynamic filled with unexpected twists ranging from humorous camaraderie to fiery confrontations. Recent revelations by a veteran photographer have peeled back another layer on this complex equation, offering a glimpse into the star's unpredictable world beyond the camera flashes.
The Unpredictable Equation: Swag, Humour, and Outbursts
Over his long career, Sanjay Dutt's encounters with the media have consistently captured public attention. These moments often go viral, showcasing either his trademark cool attitude and jokes or his raw, unfiltered anger. There is a famous video from a Diwali party that recirculates every festive season, where the actor is seen visibly upset and arguing with photographers. In contrast, a clip from 2017 shows him light-heartedly offering alcohol to media persons, while another from 2018 captured him using strong language while talking about the bosses of the photographers.
This duality defines his media interactions. He has been photographed joking with cameramen, asking them for "masala" (interesting shots), and on other occasions, sternly telling them to go home and celebrate festivals like Diwali with their families instead. The relationship remains anything but boring.
'Baba Would Force Us to Drink': The Boozy Anecdotes
In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, paparazzo Varinder Chawla recalled several personal experiences that highlight Dutt's larger-than-life persona. He shared a particularly amusing anecdote about Dutt's insistence on sharing a drink. "Many times, Baba would call us over during his shoots and ask, 'Oye, idhar aa… do you drink?'" Chawla said.
The situation would quickly escalate. "If we said no because we were working, he would insist, saying, 'I feel like you drink.' Others around him would back him up, and he would then force us to drink with him. We had no choice," Varinder explained. He emphasized Dutt's immense influence, noting that even non-drinkers would end up sitting and drinking with him simply because he is such a big celebrity. Chawla laughed while summing it up: "We would sit outside his house and drink with him." This story aligns with several past viral videos where Dutt is seen casually socializing with photographers at private events.
The 'Messiah' Moment: When Sanjay Dutt Saved a Photographer
Despite these wild tales and occasional public spats, Varinder Chawla also described Sanjay Dutt as a profoundly kind and protective figure in his personal life, even calling him a "messiah." He recounted a defining incident from earlier in his career. "At one point, I bought a second-hand Maruti Zen," Chawla said.
The trouble began when Dutt was shooting at Filmistan. "I clicked his pictures and was about to leave when I accidentally hit his vanity van while reversing my car," he narrated. The situation turned tense immediately. Dutt's team surrounded him, demanding money for damages that far exceeded the value of his own modest car. "I was sure I was going to get beaten up," Chawla admitted.
However, the moment Sanjay Dutt himself stepped in, the scenario flipped entirely. "When Sanjay Dutt came down and asked, 'What happened?' I told him I had hit his van," Chawla recalled. The actor's response was simple yet powerful. He turned to his people and said, 'Let him go.' "At that moment, he felt like my messiah," Chawla stated, concluding that Dutt has "always been a very chill guy."
These stories from Varinder Chawla paint a complete picture of Sanjay Dutt's multifaceted personality. They reveal a man who can be imposing and insistent in his camaraderie, yet capable of great empathy and protection. His relationship with the paparazzi, built on decades of such direct and unfiltered exchanges, continues to be one of Bollywood's most fascinating and unpredictable dynamics.
