Sanjay's girlfriend Manayata undergoes huge change

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Monday, September 10, 2007

Ever since their affair became public, the world has only seen Sanjay Dutt's girlfriend/wife Manayata in traditional clothes like salwar kameezes or sarees.

However, prior to her entry into Dutt's life, she was a far cry from her current image and we've got pictures to prove it.

Photographer Yogen Shah, who took this photograph three years ago at a party at the J W Marriott, says, "I had clicked Manayata's pictures thinking she was Sneha Ullal, as she was to be launched opposite Salman Khan then. Manayata had presence and stood out even then."

Not anymore

However, a friend of Mana says she's stopped wearing tight dresses and revealing outfits now. "She stopped wearing revealing Western outfits after her father's death on December 9, 2004.

In fact, she has stopped attending parties and doesn't celebrate her birthday anymore. She was extremely close to him. Her parents had separated and she had been living with her father ever since."

Today, the furthest Mana will go is jeans and a kurta. "Mana has matured from that young girl who loved partying.

Today, Mana is comfortable with Indian wear as she doesn't party or go out. She's not into designer wear either," says the friend.

It is apparent Mana has been moulding herself into a traditional homely woman, but is it to please the Dutt family?

The friend says, "It's about simplicity, dignity and elegance — everything that the Dutt family represents. You will never see Sanju's sisters wearing anything undignified. Mana respects that."

As for what Sanju like her to wear, the friend says, "Sanju is a traditional Indian guy. He's very happy when Mana wears chikan kurtas and sarees.

Like her, he's not particularly into designer wear. Many times, he picks up cotton kurtas from Goa for Rs 200 and wears them to parties but is as comfortable wearing a Rs 2 lakh Armani suit too."