Sanju Baba needs to grow up. Apparently in a fit of drunken defiance he told a journalist he’s married to his girlfriend, and what can he do about it? “But I am not married!” Sunjay confesses sheepishly on the morning after. “All this speculation is making me very uncomfortable. The truth is, I’ve known Maanyata for four years. She comes from a very conservative business family. Why all this dirt about her? I’m not denying her past. Everyone has a past. I’ve one. So does she, I’m sure. Why rake it up just to humiliate her? This is specially unfair since what’s been written about her is untrue. How can they pull her down just because she is involved with me?”

Sunjay Dutt, breathing easily after being cleared of TADA charges, doesn’t deny his deep involvement with Maanyata. “But we aren’t married. The day I’m married all my friends and wellwishers will know about it. Marriage is something I’m looking forward to. It’s perhaps that anchor which I need. Yeah, I do feel the need to settle down. But not right now. My top priority is to get out of my legal hassles. Only then will I think about other aspects of my life.”

Tell him friends in the industry are whispering about his secret marriage and Sunjay laughs. “Marriage is something I respect and hold close to my heart. Why would it be a secret?” His intentions behind being seen with Maanyata at an awards function appear almost naïve. “She wanted to see a [glamorous] show like that. Of course, I was aware her presence would make people curious. But I never imagined they’d start maligning her name. That’s a terrible thing to do. She’s a sweet simple soul. I can’t imagine why they’re saying such terrible things about her. I wish people would leave the two of us alone.”

Sunjay is more than willing to step out in the open with Maanyata. “Of course, I’m proud of her. My intention of taking her to the awards function was very simple. She had never been to a grand awards function. And I wanted her to see one.”

He admits he has to get more media savvy. “So far I’ve been so tied down with my court cases I’ve had no time for anything. But now that I’m hopefully out of it I promise a better image to myself. I was so tense because of my court cases I couldn’t work. I didn’t shoot for six months. I’m back to work with Sanjay Gupta’s Dus Kahaniyan, Indra Kumar’s Dhamaal and, of course, the third Munna Bhai film that will start by the end of the year, if all goes well. Then, there’s Sanjay Gupta’s Alibaug and Shyam Benegal’s Chamki Chameli.”

Sunjay is over the moon about the popular awards for Munna Bhai. “God has been kind. And I’ve full faith in the judiciary. I wish things will become okay in my life again. I’ve been alone for a large part of my life. After Dad’s [Sunil Dutt] death I feel especially alone. I now feel like the man of the family. I’ve watched my sisters grow up. I feel responsible towards them. I’ve got to carry my Dad’s good work forward. I’ve taken over Dad’s charitable work, with the cancer foundation, for AIDS and his efforts with an institute called SUPPORT to help street kids overcome drug addiction.”

Now, perhaps, Sanju needs to think about himself a bit. “I feel the need to settle down. I’m still not able to go out of the country. But my daughter [who lives in the US] keeps visiting. In fact, she arrives tomorrow [Friday]. My daughter is all of 18 now. She’s attending college in the US, her chosen subject is Forensic Science. Let’s see what the future holds for her.”

He becomes emotional when he talks about the film industry’s support. “When they decided to do a signature campaign for me in December I stopped them. I’m just too grateful to them for standing by me. Without them I don’t know what I’d have done.”