Sanjay Dutt: Why the Khalnayak of Bollywood Still Matters in 2026

Sanjay Dutt: Why the Khalnayak of Bollywood Still Matters in 2026

Sanjay Dutt just got a new tattoo. It’s not just some random design, either. He recently sat down to get the names of his twins, Shahraan and Iqra, inked in bold black letters right on the back of his hand. Honestly, it’s such a "Baba" move—raw, sentimental, and completely unapologetic. While most actors his age are slowing down or sticking to safe cameos, Dutt is currently navigating a career resurgence that’s frankly hard to keep up with.

If you’ve been following the news about Sanjay Dutt lately, you know the man is everywhere. He isn't just a relic of the 90s. He is a massive box-office draw in the 2020s. Just look at the numbers. His recent film Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has been smashing records, crossing the ₹1300 crore mark globally as of mid-January 2026. He’s essentially joined the elite club of actors with three ₹1000 crore films, standing right there with Deepika Padukone.

The Nepal Trip and the Lord Shiva Connection

A few days ago, Sanjay headed over to Nepal. It wasn’t just for a casino inauguration in Kathmandu, though he did that too. The real reason was spiritual. He finally visited the Pashupatinath Temple.

He’s had this on his bucket list for years. Political unrest kept pushing the trip back, but his close friend Rahul Mittra recently confirmed that "Baba" felt the call of Lord Shiva was too strong to ignore any longer. It's interesting because his devotion to Shiva isn't a PR stunt; it’s something that deep-rooted during his toughest days in prison back in the 90s.

During the trip, he didn't just hide in a hotel. He was out there meeting fan clubs and eating local Himalayan food like mutton katiya and dal bhat. He’s always been like that—kind of a man of the people, even when he’s playing the most terrifying villains on screen.

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What’s Next on the 2026 Movie Slate?

If you think he’s taking a break after Dhurandhar, you're wrong. The schedule for 2026 is actually pretty packed.

  • The Raja Saab: This horror-comedy with Prabhas just hit theaters on January 9, 2026. Even though the reviews have been a bit of a mixed bag, Sanjay’s screen presence as a menacing villain is being hailed as the highlight. Prabhas even admitted in a pre-release event that he sometimes forgot his own lines just watching Dutt perform.
  • Raja Shivaji: This one is huge. Directed by Riteish Deshmukh, this historical epic is slated for May 1, 2026. Sanjay is part of a massive ensemble cast that includes Abhishek Bachchan.
  • Dhurandhar Sequel: Because the first one was such a monster hit, a sequel is already eyeing a March 2026 release. This might lead to a massive box-office clash with Yash’s Toxic.

And then there's the "Munna Bhai" shaped hole in everyone's heart. Boman Irani recently teased that while Munna Bhai 3 isn't filming yet, the hope is still alive. Rajkumar Hirani is supposedly still refining that script. We've heard that for a decade, but with the way Sanjay is minting money at the box office right now, the pressure to make it happen has never been higher.

Health, Resilience, and the "Soldier" Mentality

We can’t talk about the current news about Sanjay Dutt without acknowledging the elephant in the room: his health. Back in 2020, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. It was a "normal day" during lockdown when he realized he couldn't breathe while walking up the stairs.

He’s been very open about crying for three hours when he first heard the news. He thought about his kids. He thought about Manyata. But then, in true Sanjay Dutt fashion, he decided he wasn't going to lie on a bed and wither away.

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"I told the doctor 'mereko kuch nahi hoga' (nothing will happen to me). I won't lose hair, I won't vomit."

He actually went to Dubai for chemo and then went straight to the badminton court to play for three hours. That’s not normal. It’s a level of stubbornness that has defined his entire life, from his drug recovery in the 80s to his legal battles. Today, he’s back in the gym, regaining muscle, and looking as fit as he did in his Agneepath days.

Family Dynamics and Trishala’s Voice

While Sanjay is busy in Mumbai and Nepal, his eldest daughter, Trishala, has been making her own waves. Working as a psychotherapist in the US, she recently posted some pretty deep insights about "silent abuse" and "toxic silence" in relationships.

She's always been the most private part of the Dutt family, but her voice is becoming influential in its own right. It’s a sharp contrast—Sanjay, the old-school action star, and Trishala, the modern mental health advocate. It shows a family that has grown through immense trauma and come out the other side with a lot of wisdom.

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Actionable Insights for Fans

If you're looking to keep up with Baba this year, here’s how to navigate the noise:

  1. Watch the South Indian Projects: Sanjay is leaning heavily into Pan-Indian cinema. Films like The Raja Saab and KD: The Devil show him in roles that Bollywood doesn't always offer him anymore.
  2. Verify the Political Rumors: Every few months, a "Sanjay Dutt entering politics" story goes viral. Usually, it's just noise. He and his team consistently maintain that they stay away from the political arena.
  3. Check the Release Dates: With Dhurandhar 2 and Raja Shivaji coming up, the first half of 2026 is basically the Summer of Dutt.

The most fascinating thing about the news about Sanjay Dutt isn't the movies. It’s the survival. Most people get one or two "acts" in their life. Sanjay is on his fifth or sixth. Whether he's getting a new tattoo for his kids or playing a ghost in a Prabhas movie, he’s doing it with the same "Khalnayak" energy that made him a star forty years ago.

Keep an eye on the March 2026 box office. The clash between Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic will likely define who the real king of the ticket window is this year. For now, Sanjay seems content just being "Baba"—spiritually grounded, physically fit, and busier than ever.