Sanju Movie Review: Ranbir Kapoor Delivers His BEST Performance Ever In Sanjay Dutt Biopic!

Sanju begins with the actor's current life and writer Winnie Dias (Anushka Sharma) who is aiming to write a book on him. The author's encounters with Dutt and his two friends Mistry (Jim Sarbh) and Kamlesh (Vicky Kaushal) help the film have multiple flashbacks and have an engaging narrative, as the actor's story is revealed by different people. But Sanju is extremely well edited and the back stories are nicely woven together to give it a smooth ride. The writing and the dialogues are smart, as expected from the people who've given us great films like the Munna Bhai series, 3 Idiots and PK.

The first half of Sanju is interesting with the portrayal of Sanjay Dutt's coming of age, his movie debut with Rocky, his mother's illness, his heartbreak and then multiple girlfriends, and his self-destruction with drugs and alcohol. It's the second half of the film that is what Sanju is all about - his jail term and being accused of being a terrorist.

As we know, Sanju Baba's traumatic life went further downhill when he is accused of possessing an AK-56 rifle following the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Thus began his most controversial phase with TADA being imposed on him, and also the Arms Act for illegal possession of weapons, and him being termed as a terrorist for being in touch with the perpetrators of the bomb blasts that took many lives and disrupted the functioning of India’s financial capital. He may have been naive in getting his toys from the dons, but he couldn’t be labelled as a terrorist, could he? What was the reason behind approaching the underworld for possessing a gun? To know that, watch the film.

It was clear that Sanju will be a movie that will not hide anything from the life of Sanju Baba, and it doesn't. But there are still parts that have not been shown. Like the three weddings of Sanjay Dutt. There is no mention or showcase of his first wife Richa Sharma who died of cancer and their child Trishala, or his second wife Rhea Pillai. There is only his wife Maanayata aka Manyata Dutt and their two young children who are shown. No mention of his alleged liaison with Madhuri Dixit or Tina Munim either.  

But all these are not missed really because Sanju is essentially a father-son story and also about friendship. In that sense, the three central characters of the film are Sanjay Dutt (Ranbir Kapoor), his father Sunil Dutt (Paresh Rawal) and his best friend Kamlesh (Vicky Kaushal). 

Ranbir Kapoor's haters' who made fun of the actor from the trailer will be amazed at his effortless performance. At the teaser launch of Sanju, Ranbir Kapoor had revealed that they worked hard not to make his enactment of Sanjay Dutt caricaturish. The actor has delivered on that count and how Sanju is a make or break film for Ranbir Kapoor whose last few outings have been flops or average earners. Yup, he was appreciated in Tamasha and Ae Adil Hai Mushkil, but not in Jagga Jasoos, Bombay Velvet, Roy or Besharam. Ranbir does not need a hit film, he needs a blockbuster. And Sanju will be one!

Vicky Kaushal excels as Kamlesh, Dutt's best buddy from the US. He matches Ranbir's performance and truly deserves applause. Paresh Rawal is an ace actor and shines as Sunil Dutt. However, he could have worked on his diction and body language a bit to play a man of Sunil Dutt's stature. 

Manisha Koirala gets a mention for her 'special appearance' but her role as Nargis Dutt the great actress and Sanju's mother is so endearing that it stays with you. Why take it as a special appearance?

Anushka Sharma's character works as a narrator who binds everyone together from the beginning to the end. She has delivered an honest performance as the author.

Dia Mirza as Maanayata doesn't have much scope but Sonam Kapoor is fine in her small role as Ruby, Dutt's first girlfriend he was serious about. Boman Irani does a cameo as her father. Jim Sarbh is impressive in his negative role. But the girls playing Dutt's sisters Namrata and Priya have maybe a line each in the film! 

Sanju the film gives Sanjay Dutt a chance to tell his story like it actually is, or how he sees it. It has also given him - and Ranbir Kapoor - a chance to hit out at the media and its reliance on 'sources' to create sensational news.

With Sanju, Ranbir Kapoor took the biggest risk of his career yet - bigger than Jagga Jasoos - and it has paid off. But more than Ranbir Kapoor, it is Sanjay Dutt who will be a relieved man after this film. Watch it and you'll know why.

Also watch Sanju for the sheer brilliance of Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi. The winning duo has yet again made us sit up and take notice of their film, and enjoy it. Ranbir Kapoor is outstanding. SPOILER There is a surprise post the credits!