Mumbai, Feb. 25: Hours after Sanjay Dutt walked free from Pune's Yerwada jail today, the prison radio played his last broadcast for inmates at lunch time.
" Bhaiyon, gunah ki rah pe chal ke kuch haasil nahi hota (brothers, nothing is gained by treading the path of crime)," was the message from prisoner No. 16656 on YCP Radio, short for Yerwada Central Prison Radio.
The radio service had been largely inactive but became extremely popular after Sanjay took the responsibility of reviving it, according to jail officials.
In Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Sanjay's love interest (Vidya Balan) is a radio jockey with whom he begins to co-host a show on Gandhi's ideas and their relevance in solving problems aired by listeners.
"When Sanjay came to know about the unused radio station, he said as Munnabhai he should be allowed to be the RJ. He enjoyed the job tremendously, writing scripts and playing music between 11am and 4pm when the service would be on," said a Yerwada official.
Being an RJ and crafting newspaper bags and envelopes - a task he was not too fond of - earned Sanjay around Rs 38,000 during his jail stay. "He spent most of it on items of personal use - he would often order dinner from restaurants outside. I think he has gone home with only Rs 440," said the jail official.
Speaking after his return home to Mumbai later today, Sanjay said "like a good husband" he had handed over the cash to wife Manyata.
The news conference at his Pali Hill (Bandra) residence had its own Bollywood moments.
Wife Manyata, clad in black top and dark shades, stood behind Sanjay holding him while their five-year old twins Shahraan and Iqra were brought in for a few minutes to cuddle with dad before the cameras.
"The road to freedom is not easy," said Sanjay as he began the news conference. "For 23 years, I wanted to be a free man, to taste freedom. I did that today but it has not sunk in. Seems like I am out on parole."
That brought some uncomfortable questions about his 144-day remission in his five-year sentence in an arms act case related to the 1993 Bombay blasts and the frequent paroles and furloughs that marked his jail stints. He skirted them saying "everything has been done within the law".
"I did not sleep last night out of anxiety. I have not been able to eat for days, hoping all goes well and I can taste freedom," he said.
Today, Sanjay tasted more than freedom - he bagged a new film soon after the news conference. Siddharth Anand - who directed the Hrithik Roshan-starrer Bang Bang - will helm the action thriller with Sanjay. Shooting is expected to begin in April.
Before that, Sanjay said he would go on a holiday with family and, pointing to Manyata, said the "boss" would decide the destination. "She is my best half, not better half. When I get weak, she pulls me up," he said.
Earlier, Manyata and Munna Bhai director Rajkumar Hirani were present when Sanjay walked out of jail around 7am. "Hirani shot the sequence of Sanjay emerging from jail bearing a khaki kit bag and wearing a dark blue shirt and a red tilak," said writer Abhijat Joshi, who was also present.
"Sanju (Sanjay) touched the ground and saluted the Indian flag (atop the jail) before he walked towards us. This will be the opening shot of the biopic Raju (Rajkumar) Hirani is making on him," said Joshi. Ranbir Kapoor will play Sanjay in the film, titled Baadshaho.
After reaching Mumbai, Sanjay visited mother Nargis's grave and Siddhivinayak temple. Outside his home, Sanjay was greeted by activists of the Congress, NCP and the BJP who chanted his name. Leaders rushed to hug him.
