When Sanjay Dutt called marriage a ‘Heart Attack’ and how it's not difficult to be faithful

As Sanjay Dutt rings in his 66th birthday today, fans across the country are pouring in wishes for the beloved actor. But alongside the celebrations, an old video of his appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 1 is making waves online. Seated next to Sushmita Sen back in 2005, the Munnabhai MBBS star had opened up about love, marriage, and his vulnerable side like never before, and fans are now rediscovering that candid chat.

In the throwback episode, when host Karan Johar asked Sanjay about relationships, the actor said something that instantly caught attention: “I love to be loved. I love somebody to hold me, cuddle me, treat me like a son... I just live being loved.” He added that over time, he had become “more romantic,” revealing a softer, more emotional side behind his tough-guy image.

When the conversation shifted to marriage, Sanjay shared a more grounded take. “Marriage is a commitment you have to accept,” he stated. Reflecting on how relationships have changed over time, he even referenced his parents, Nargis and Sunil Dutt, calling out how much women had to sacrifice in that era. “Today, I haven’t seen a happy man, I don’t know why,” he said with a mix of humour and honesty.

On the topic of staying loyal in a relationship, Sanjay said, “It’s not difficult to be faithful, but to adjust is very difficult”, a sentiment that resonated with many even now. His playful banter with Sushmita Sen had the audience in splits when she teased him about falling in love with every woman he dated. Sanjay laughed and replied, “I’ve got a big heart, Sush. I love these heart attacks (marriage)!”

Sanjay Dutt has been married three times. He first tied the knot with actress Richa Sharma in 1987, who tragically passed away in 1996. He later married Rhea Pillai in 1998, but the couple divorced in 2008. That same year, he found love again with Maanayata Dutt, with whom he shares twins Shahraan and Iqra, born in 2010.

As Sanjay turns a year older, fans are celebrating not just his film legacy, but also his rare moments of truth and tenderness, proof that behind the brawn, lies a man who’s loved deeply, lost, adjusted, and lived fully.