The Man Who Won Every Battle But One

Be it saving the love of his life from the wrath of flames, or saving his son from the clutches of drug addiction, or completing a journey of 2000 kilometres by foot or resigning from his electoral position for his principles, Sunil Dutt emerged victorious every time. On this day in 2005, however, he lost the struggle of life to a heart attack.

Sunil Dutt; Source: Jagran

Writing about Sunil Dutt is always a task and a half. The dilemma that remains is picking and choosing the things to harp on about and things to leave out because he lived three lives in the time others are barely able to live even one. If you think we're exaggerating, your perspective is about to change by the time you finish reading this.

Some people remember him as Sanjay Dutt's father, who unconditionally supported his son through whatever life threw at him. When he descended into drug-filled madness, he was there to save him. When Sanjay Dutt went to jail. Sunil came to his rescue yet again.

Munnabhai M.B.B.S's last scene is so revered by the fans precisely because of the bond that this father-son duo shared- it is said that they two kept hugging each other long after the scene had ended.

"Tumne apni maa ko toh bohot baar jaadu ki jhappi di hai. Aaj apne baap ke bhi gale lag ja."

Some people remember him for his heartwarming love story with Nargis Dutt. They aren't to be blamed. It was one of the most beautiful pairings in Bollywood, one that renewed people's faith in love. The superhit tale of love began during the shooting of a superhit film, Mother India.

In the course of shooting a scene, Nargis got caught in amidst flames, but Sunil Dutt risked his life in order to get her out of there alive.

That the most beautiful love stories are the ones that are incomplete has become axiomatic, but Sunil Dutt wasn't the one to leave things incomplete. He shut out the noise that emanated from everyone around him, and without a care about people, religion and society, he married Nargis Dutt in what was one of the most high-profile, inter-religious weddings of that time.

Some people remember him for his political life, where he kept his hands and principles clean in spite of the dirty electoral politics of India. He wasn't lured in by power but by the noble purpose of ending long-standing hostility between Hindus and Muslims.

When Babri Masjid was demolished, he resigned from his seat and revolted against his very own party, which had a hand in the debacle.

The people who personally knew him, remember his humility and kindness, which he showered upon other people in abundance. They remember the Sunil Dutt, who had embarked on a journey worth thousands of kilometres for the cause of kindness and peace.

He walked on foot from Mumbai to Punjab, a journey that lasted 2000 Kilometres.

When riots engulfed the country, he stepped in to quell tensions himself instead of sitting back with hands on his head. For his humanity, people still bow in gratitude in front of him.

Sunil Dutt endured hardships throughout his life. He struggles to create a distinct place for himself, he struggles for his righteous sense of politics, he struggled with Nargis when she was diagnosed with Cancer. he struggled for his son when he was shackled by drugs and he struggled when his son was arrested and confined in the four-walled hell that a prison cell is.

Before he was able to catch a break, death came knocking on his door. On this day in 2005, Sunil Dutt lost his life to a fatal heart attack. Throughout his life, he was underappreciated by the people because he refused to let anything supercede his principles. In all honesty, a film made on his life would be far more successful than the one made on his son's. After all, Sunil Dutt was as much a hero in real life as he was in reel life.