I am a fighter – Sanjay Dutt

The Supreme Court verdict barring Sanjay Dutt from contesting elections came as a big blow to the actor and his supporters in the Samajwadi Party, particularly Amar Singh.

Hours after the verdict, Sanjay Dutt was expected to fly to Delhi from Lucknow to discuss his course of action with his party allies. "I've seen too much in life to be rattled by this latest setback," Sanjay Dutt told a friend minutes after the honourable Supreme Court vetoed the actor's desire to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Dutt has now realized that discretion, restrain and transparency in public conduct are the keys to public acceptance.

Says a very close friend, "It's very important for Sanjay to prove himself in politics, not only to clear his name and exonerate himself of his past records. But also because he wants to carry forward his parents' legacy as people of the masses ahead as much as his sister Priya. What hurt Sanjay was that some people close to him questioned his right to enter politics and sniggered at his capability to be a politician."

After the court's verdict, a pall of gloom fell over Dutt and his close friends and associates. Though his wife Manyata Dutt wasn't with him at the time of the verdict, his two non-film friends Bittu and Prashant were with Dutt. They tried their best to cheer up the crestfallen star who was pretty sure of a judgement in his favour.

"But I'm a fighter. Life has made me so. I'll remain that way until the last moment. If I'm told I can't fight the election, that's still fine. I'll continue to work with Amar Singhji," Dutt told a close friend after the verdict.

The verdict is no doubt a setback. And Sanjay Dutt was visibly upset about it. But he has decided to stay in Lucknow and continue to work with Amar Singh until his elections. "And even after the elections, Sanjay will be working with Amar Singhji. Whether he fights elections or not, Sanjay Dutt is into politics for good," says Sanjay's friend.