Why Dutt's not the way to be

Mumbai: The long court procedure and family disputes regarding the latest woman in Sanjay Dutt's life have taken their toll on the actor's health, say his close friends and well-wishers.

"We're really worried about Sanju's stress level. Anything can happen," a close friend said.

The actor is suffering from a serious back problem and is in a state of acute pain.

"Two of the bones in his vertebrae have collapsed suddenly. Sanju had to have them attended to immediately. Now he needs to go for physiotherapy every afternoon to Nanavati hospital, which is a good 45 minutes away from his home. That's some more pressure on Sanju's already awry schedules and also on his troubled health," explained the friend.

Amidst all this, the actor is shooting for Indra Kumar's Dhamaal.

"That isn't the end of his troubles. To add to his timetable pressures, Sanju is shooting nights for Dhamaal. He isn't getting enough sleep. And we're all very worried about his health. He gets up tired and goes through his chaotic routine and pretends to be funny during nights. It isn't healthy," added the friend.

Sanjay has been convicted by a special TADA court looking into the Mumbai serial blasts case for possessing illegal weapons. The court on Friday sentenced his friend Samir Hingora to nine years' rigorous imprisonment for supplying arms to him, and that could spell further trouble for him.

According to close friends, the court's verdict is no longer the only major headache in his existence. Rumours and comparisons are making things worse.

"But yes, Sanju feels stories about him buying a new Ferrari when the car has been in his garage for two years, aren't helping his cause. The news item had really stressed him out. We had to ask him to calm down."

"The worst blow was when a section of the media wrote about another bomb accused getting a sentence of rigorous imprisonment. Sanju felt these reports were unfairly comparing his case to the convicted man's case. He thought the media's implied contention that he too should get just as harsh a sentence was too harsh on him. We agree. Sanju has suffered enough. And he needs to settle down in life."

Matters at home aren't making his life any easier. His family is sharply aligned against his ladylove Manyatta.

"Sanju can't bear to see his sisters upset. But he won't give up Manyata," said the friend.