Sanjay Dutt cried 3 years after mother’s demise; father Sunil Dutt had to send Nargis’ voice tapes to his US rehab centre

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains references to alcohol and drug addiction.

Sanjay Dutt, known for his strong and memorable roles in films like 'Agneepath', 'Khalnayak', 'Munna Bhai', 'Vaastav' saw many ups and downs in his personal life. He always seemed tough and unaffected by life’s problems.

But the loss of his mother, legendary actress Nargis, left him deeply wounded. Nargis passed away on May 3, 1981, just before the release of Sanjay’s film 'Rocky'.

Sanjay Dutt did not cry for 3 years

As reported by PTI in the past, in the book 'Sanjay Dutt: The Crazy Untold Story of Bollywood’s Bad Boy', Yasser Usman wrote, “Sanjay had not cried when his mother died. It had been three long years since Nargis had passed away but Sanjay’s wounds were still festering.”


Even in his early twenties, the 'Khalnayak' actor buried his grief deep inside, unable to openly express the pain. The young actor kept going, hiding the heartbreak from the world and even from himself.

Sunil Dutt sent tapes to help him

Years later, Sanjay was at a drugs rehab centre in the US, fighting his own battles. To help him reconnect with his feelings and support his recovery, his father and veteran actor, late Sunil Dutt, sent him some tapes of Nargis speaking during her final days.

“When Sanjay got the tapes from Sunil he had no idea what was on them. He pressed play and suddenly the room was filled with Nargis’s voice. He remembered his childhood, when his mother’s voice would reverberate through the Dutt mansion,” Usman wrote.

Emotional release came after hearing mother

The tapes gave Sanjay a chance to release years of suppressed emotions. Listening to Nargis speak from beyond made him remember the depth of their bond and his childhood with her. After three long years of holding back, Sanjay finally cried.

Sanjay Dutt on the work front

Sanjay’s recent release, 'Baaghi 4', starring Tiger Shroff, Harnaz Sandhu, and Sonam Bajwa, hit cinemas on September 5, 2025. Looking ahead, his next film 'Dhurandhar', co-starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar of 'Uri' fame, is slated for a December 2025 release.

DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance abuse, please seek help from available helplines or support organizations.