Raj Kumar Hirani's biopic, Sanju, presents a dramatic yet factually questionable portrayal of the controversial actor Sanjay Dutt. The film cleverly frames Dutt as a victim of his own innocence. Ranbir Kapoor's performance as Dutt is marked by a blend of earnestness and comedic charm, leading viewers to ponder the film's opening gag about a fictitious biographer comparing Dutt to Mahatma Gandhi.

The narrative, crafted by Hirani and co-writer Abhijat Joshi, places the blame for Dutt's tarnished reputation squarely on the media. A character played by Prakash Belawadi, a newspaper editor, is depicted as 'culpable' for publishing an article questioning Dutt's career.

In a scene at an awards ceremony, Dutt, portrayed as winning the Best Actor award for Munnabhai MBBS, is shown asking the editor to publish a follow-up article affirming that Dutt is not finished, humorously insisting it be without a question mark.

Despite its focus on portraying Dutt as a victim, the film introduces characters and scenarios that diverge from the actual events of Dutt's life. The girlfriends who are part of Dutt's history are hastily addressed, with Sonam Kapoor's character seemingly combining traits of Tina Munim and Richa Sharma.

A particularly crude joke involving a drunken Dutt and his conniving friend Zubin Mistry, played by Jim Sarbh, feels out of place and tasteless, reminiscent of Hirani's previous controversial humor.

The film's approach amplifies Dutt's life events, ultimately portraying him as a self-pitying victim. While some moments resonate due to the chemistry between Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, the writing lacks depth in exploring their friendship.

Scenes featuring Kapoor and Kaushal echo Hirani's earlier work in 3 Idiots, but some interactions come off as lowbrow. Karisma Tanna's role as Kaushal's girlfriend who has an affair with Dutt is particularly poorly executed.

The film's rapid pacing keeps the audience engaged, as it navigates through the tumultuous events of Dutt's life while attempting to shift blame. Kapoor and Kaushal's dynamic adds a lively element to this one-sided narrative. However, other characters, like Manisha Koirala as Dutt's mother, Nargis, are underutilized in the fast-paced storytelling.

One wonders how the outspoken Nargis would react to this semi-factual portrayal of her son.

As Sanju marks its sixth anniversary on June 29, it is evident that the film serves more as a whitewash than an honest biography, glossing over the significant controversies surrounding Dutt's life.

Notably, the film neglects to mention Dutt's former wives, Richa Sharma and Rhea Pillai, and completely omits his daughter Trishala, which is a glaring oversight. The girlfriends, integral to Dutt's narrative, are quickly brushed aside, with Sonam Kapoor's character again representing a blend of past relationships.

The film presents a skewed perspective on Dutt's life, focusing on themes of self-destruction and abuse without adequately addressing them. Kaushal's portrayal as Dutt's friend often comes off as irritating, particularly with his flippant remarks.

Paresh Rawal's depiction of Sunil Dutt suggests a father oblivious to his son's flaws, which contradicts the reality of Dutt's struggles. Dutt Saab himself expressed concern over his son's behavior, referring to him as a bidga beta spoiled by his mother.

After the film's release, when asked if he had seen it, Sanjay Dutt replied that he hadn't but trusted Hirani's portrayal, expressing confidence that he had been represented well.

However, doubts linger regarding the film's authenticity.