Paresh Rawal has been receiving accolades for playing Sunil Dutt in recently-released Sanju. However, did you know what prompted him to take up the role? Well, it was a letter that Sunil Dutt wrote to him hours before he passed away.
The letter was written on a letter head with Dutt’s stamp who was also a parliamentarian. It reads, “Dear Paresh Ji! As your birthday falls on 30th May, let me wish you all the happiness, prosperity and good luck in life, May God shower his choicest blessings on you and your family.”
“On May 25, 2005, I was shooting for a movie and I called up home to say that I will be late today. And during the shooting, we got to know that Dutt Sahab (Sunil Dutt) has passed away, so I called up my wife and said I will come a bit late because Dutt Sahab has passed away and I am going to his house. She then told me that there is a letter for you from him (Sunil Dutt). I asked her what the letter was and she said it is for wishing you a happy birthday. I told her that my birthday is on May 30, which is five days away but she said the letter is for you and she even read it to me. I was so surprised. Why would Dutt Sahab send me a birthday letter five days before my birthday? And we have never exchanged any holiday greetings in the past – be it Diwali or Christmas – so why would he write to me?,” Paresh told a section of the media.
Who knew, Rawal will play his role in Sanju 13 years later.