‘Rocky‘, Sanjay Dutt’s debut film, completes glorious 39 years

Ever since his debut with Sunil Dutt’s directorial Rocky in 1981, Sanjay Dutt has entranced the audience with his powerful and versatile acting. From featuring as a heartthrob in Rocky to the quintessential bad boy that every girl loves in Khalnayak to the sweet, self-sacrificing hero in Saajan and the troubled mafia don in Vaastav to portraying the funny and outgoing guy in movies like Munnabhai MBBS, Dutt has shown his par excellence range. His dangerous demeanour in films like Agneepath and Panipat only strengthen this image as a multitalented superstar.

He has always delivered the ultimate entertainment to his fans and today, on the 39th anniversary of his first film, we revisit the movie and take a look at the memorable moments it gave the audience.
1 : An Emerging Superstar and His Style : The first time Sanjay Dutt came on the big screen with his tall stance, handsome face and that long hair, he already had the audience mesmerized. The actor made sure that the behind-the-scene prep that he had combined with his father’s guidance and his natural talent shone brightly in this first silver screen appearance. His performance in the movie was highly appreciated by the audience as Dutt delivered every dialogue and nuance with conviction. 2 : The Father-Son Duo Debut : In one Sanjay Dutt’s most iconic films from the later years, Munnabhai MBBS, we saw him and father Sunil Dutt share screen space. But that wasn’t the first time that the father-son duo was in the same film. It was Rocky where Sunil Dutt wore the hat of not only the director but also an actor who had a cameo appearance as young Rocky’s late father. This fact makes the film extra special for not only the actor but his fans too.

3 : The Melody That Will Last Forever : Music is an emotion that has the power to last forever and this film proves it time and again with tunes that stay with you for years to come. The film boasts a complete album with songs for different themes packaged together to make this a memorable one. Who can forget the melodious notes of the love ballad, Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai. Sung by two of the biggest names to have ever graced the Indian music industry, Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, the song is accentuated by the heartfelt lyrics and beautiful cinematography. Rocky also gave us other gems like Aa Dekhe Zara and Rocky Ka Salaam which are loved by the audience even today. 4 : A Full Masala Entertainer : The audience in the 1980s was hungry for entertaining content and that is exactly what Rocky gave them. Sanjay Dutt became a household name after he essayed the titular part with his strong on-screen presence in the film which filled to the brim with romance, action-packed scenes, memorable dialogue and remarkable songs. 5 : A Theme Close To Sanjay Dutt’s Heart : We all are aware of the special bond that Dutt shared with his mother, the skilled actress Nargis. The film was a dream of hers, a dream to watch her son on the big screen before she passed away in the days leading up to the release. But it was apparent that the touching mother-son theme that film showcased was something that Dutt channelled from his personal life. This theme remained special to the actor in his later years as he explored it more with films like Vaastav and Munnabhai MBBS among others.

Sanjay Dutt has had an illustrious career where he rose to superstardom right from his first film. And this film, with so many elements that take us back in time but are still relevant and close to the audience after 39 years, will stand the test of time for decades and generations to come.