#GoldenFrames: Sunil Dutt

Sunil Dutt donned many hats, from an award-winning actor to a loving husband, to a doting father, to a much-loved politician. 'Ek Hi Raasta' (1956), 'Gumrah' (1963), 'Waqt' (1965), 'Hamraaz' (1967), 'Padosan' (1968) and 'Reshma Aur Shera' (1972) were some of his major box office hits. The actor was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1968. Dutt has acted in over a hundred movies, produced seven and also directed six. He was also a recipient of the Glory of India Award by IIFS, London. In 1982, Dutt was a former Sheriff of Mumbai. The actor was the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports from 2004 to 2005.

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Sunil Dutt's actual name is Balraj Dutt. On June 6th, 1929, he was born to father Diwan Raghunath Dutt and mother Kulwantidevi Dutt in Punjab, Pakistan. Dutt was only six when his father passed away. He was eighteen when the Partition of India took place. The actor moved to a small village of Mandauli on the bank of the river Yamuna located in Yamuna Nagar, Punjab, which is now a district of Haryana, then to Lucknow, U.P., before finally settling in Mumbai.

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Dutt worked with Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia, and gained popularity as an announcer. The actor took up a job at the city's BEST Transportation Engineering division while graduating from Jai Hind College, Mumbai. He graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) in History in 1954.

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Sunil Dutt landed his first role in the movie 'Railway Platform' (1955), following 'Ek Hi Raasta' (1956), which didn't do well.

(Photo: Still from the movie 'Railway Platform')

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One of the masterpieces of Indian Cinema 'Mother India' (1957) changed his life as a set of the movie caught fire during the shoot, and it was none other than Sunil Dutt himself who rescued Nargis. Dutt was gravely injured while saving her. Nargis was taking care of Dutt, they got close, and their love blossomed. Nargis was already a huge star, and Sunil Dutt was just getting on his feet. It wasn't easy for the actor to woo such a big star like Nargis. Unlike others in the actress's life, Dutt gave her dignity and respect.

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