Calling it a "massive blow",Bollywood fraternity today expressed sadness and shock afterSanjay Dutt was sentence to five years in jail by theSupreme Court for illegal arms possession during the 1993serial Mumbai blasts.
The 53-year-old has already served 18 months of his termand will now have to spend three and a half years in jail. Thecourt has given the actor four weeks time to surrender.
The fate of three big budget films is riding on Dutt with'Zanjeer' remake, 'Policegiri' and Rajkumar Hirani's 'Peekay',currently under production. Dutt was also slated to reprisehis role of a lovable goon in Hirani's third Munnabhai film,whose future remains unclear now.
Director-producer Karan Johar, who has signed Dutt in hisupcoming film 'Ungli', said, "I am truly shattered to hear ofSanju's sentence... the nicest guy I have known just doesn'tdeserve this... My heart goes out to him."
Director Subhash Kapoor, who was recently signed on toshoot the third 'Munnabhai film, said he was surprised by thejudgement.
"I am in shock and surprised. I personally expected theSupreme Court to be more lenient to him. Have no words toexpress my shock," Kapoor told PTI.
When asked whether the judgement will affect the fate ofthe third Munnabhai film, Kapoor said, "It's too early tocomment on this issue. My producers Vidhu Vinod Chopra is inAmerica now and Raju (Hirani) is busy shooting 'Peekay'. OnceVidhu gets back, I will speak to him about this. The film wasin a very nascent stage."
Director Kunal Kohli too batted for Dutt, saying, "The'93 blast case should not be made about Sanjay Dutt. The Realplanners are sitting safely in Pakistan like Osama Bin Ladenwas."
Music director Vishal Dadlani said, "I am not contesting/denying the law, but it breaks my heart thatSanjay Dutt has to face this. He has done so much, soselflessly for so many!."
"Sad to know the verdict on Sanjay Dutt, my heart goesout to him and his family... he was a fighter, is one and willalways be one," said Aftab Shivdasani.
"Sending out a big big hug to Sanju. The most forgivingman I know. Sad he could not be forgiven himself," directorAnubhav Sinha said.
"I will be very sad to see Sanjay Dutt go back tojail... where I used to meet him years ago. A second term willdestroy the man," tweeted Pritish Nandy
The actor was convicted by the TADA court for illegalpossession a 9 mm Pistol and a AK-56 rifle which was part ofthe consignment of weapons and explosives brought to India forthe coordinated serial blasts that killed 257 people andinjured over 700.