Sanjay Dutt has seldom spoken in detail about the personal tragedies that shaped his life. While the actor is known for his powerful screen presence, he has largely kept conversations about his parents private. In a recent interview, however, he reflected on the heartbreaking loss of his mother, legendary actor Nargis, who passed away just days before the release of his debut film.
Sanjay revisited Nargis’ battle with pancreatic cancer , recalling how the family sought treatment abroad in the hope of saving her. He said in an interview on AIG Hospitals YouTube channel, "So, mom died of cancer, unfortunately, pancreatic cancer. This was in the early ‘80s, so even the technology we have today wasn’t available back then. There was this massive surgery that was done. We went to New York and got it done at Sloan Kettering.”
He went on to describe the emotional strain the illness placed on the family, sharing that he was only in his late teens when he witnessed his mother’s prolonged struggle.
“There were a lot of complications with her. I was very young then, about 19 or 20. To see my mother go through all of that, we donated platelets, did everything we could. My sisters were younger than me, and it was a very traumatic time.” Sanjay also recalled a difficult phase when his father, Sunil Dutt , asked him to return to India and finish work on his debut film, 'Rocky', even though Nargis remained in a coma. At the time, he found it impossible to understand the decision.
“My film was about to release as well, so that was another pressure. My father sent me back to complete the film while my mother was in a coma. At that time, I just couldn’t understand it, why complete the film when my mother was in a coma? But anyway, I did that and came back.”
Remembering her final moments, Sanjay said he believes Nargis held on until she was able to return home. “I saw her fighting. I think she just wanted to come back home somehow. She kept fighting until she came back, and once she was home, she gave up the fight. We lost her after she returned here.”
During the conversation, Sanjay also paid tribute to his father, describing Sunil Dutt as a disciplined parent whose principles continue to guide him. He credited him for instilling values of humility and respect that he still follows today.
“He was a strict father. And I think all the values that we have today came from him, the values of respecting seniors, older people, doctors. Even if the doctor is junior to me, I still respect them because they’re my doctor.”
Nargis passed away in 1981 at the age of 51 after battling pancreatic cancer, only days before the release of 'Rocky', which marked Sanjay Dutt’s acting debut. Sunil Dutt died of a heart attack in 2005 at the age of 75.
On the professional front, Sanjay was last seen in Aditya Dhar ’s two-part franchise 'Dhurandhar'.
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