Sanjay Dutt visits father's one-time home in Lucknow

Lucknow, Feb 18 (IANS) Actor Sanjay Dutt Wednesday evening finally visited the humble dwelling in a narrow bylane of Lucknow where his late father Sunil Dutt had lived way back in 1949.

The popular star's attempt to reach the house in the crowded Aminabad area earlier in the day was frustrated because of surging crowds who clogged the entire lane, making it impossible for him to even enter the locality.

What made it worse was the absence of adequate security.

However, determined not to leave the city without paying a visit to what was once his father's 'home' in the yesteryears, Sanjay succeeded in his second attempt to reach the house.

He was cheered by crowds, who turned ecstatic, no sooner than word spread about his unannounced visit.

As he got down from his vehicle to walk through the narrow bylane - 'Ganne wali Gali' - the euphoria was visible on the faces of bystanders. People climbed atop every terrace and balcony from where they could have a glimpse of their favourite 'Munnabhai'.

With flowers and garlands flung on him from all sides, one of the garlands landed straight around his neck. The girl who had swung that garland from her terrace screamed with delight. He waved out to all and sundry, promising them, 'I will return soon.'

Sanjay, who has been picked by the Samajwadi Party as its candidate from Lucknow, took a round of the house and when he entered the room where Sunil Dutt had lived under the pseudonym Akhtar, he touched the walls with an apparently spontaneous surge of emotion.

'Papa always wanted to bring all three of us siblings to give us a feel of the place where he spent his crucial initial years; but I am glad that his dream is being fulfilled today - thanks to (Samajwadi Party leader) Amar Singh, who is like an elder brother to me,' he said before walking back to his car on the road outside.