Today’s newspapers are flooded with reports on Sanjay Dutt’s mixed verdict yesterday. But the mood is upbeat amongst the film fraternity. On one hand he was acquitted from the Tada court, but was held guilty under the arms act section 3 and 7 for possession of an AK-56 rifle, a prohibited weapon and a pistol. Under section seven, he is liable for a maximum of ten years in jail or a minimum of five years, while under section three, the term is going to be maximum three years or a minimum of one year.  

Now, after a few facts, it’s time for some emotional reasons why Sanjay Dutt ought to be a happy man. The manner in which film industry supported him through this hour of crisis was amazing. A cavalcade of twenty five cars accompanied him to the court yesterday and after the verdict whereas Karan Johar called Dutt, family, Arshad Warsi was a much relieved man. After all he had written a letter to Munnabhai the same morning in a city tabloid and signed off by saying, “Bhai Tension nahin lene ka”.

Manisha Koirala broke down after hearing the verdict in Goa where she is attending the film festival. She felt relieved for ‘Baba’. Veteran singer Asha Bhosle in her statement said that she was happy for Sanjay whom she called a “good human being”. She also said that she had been glued to the television screen throughout the day following the day’s proceedings. Many are saying that it was the Ganpati statue given by Asha tai to Sanju at the launch of her latest album ‘Asha and Friends’ (where Sanjay has sung a duet with the legendary singer) that has come to Munnabhai’s rescue.

The most surprising comments came from ex wife Rhea Pillai when she said that her love for Sanjay is “Unconditional”. In fact she had been in touch with him before and after the verdict was announced. Rhea was a pillar of support for Dutt the last time he had gone to jail in 1993. She had regularly visited him in jail and stood by him like a rock. They parted ways four years ago but continue to be good friends, which is evident from the fact that Sanjay congratulated Rhea on the birth of her daughter with Leander Paes. What’s more heartening to note is that it was Leander Paes who broke the news to Rhea that Sanjay has been acquitted of the charges under Tada.

The final straw in this story came when Madhuri Dixit broke her silence and felt relieved for the man she was once allegedly romantically involved with. When Sanjay last went to jail he had delivered a big hit in ‘Khalnayak’ and he was said to have been having an amorous relationship with the ‘dhak dhak’ girl who was the heroine in the film. Dixit had maintained a studied silence after Dutt was sentenced then. Even after he went to jail she didn’t say a word about the alleged relationship or did she feel sorry for the man she once loved. Considering Dixit is happily married today with two sons maybe she considered it opportune to express her solidarity.

In the final analysis Sanjay Dutt ought to be a happy man for he has something to look forward to. I think he must have slept last night relatively peacefully in many years. Munnabhai….Samjho Ho Hi Gaya….