The 53-year-old actor will have to spend three-and-a-half years in jail after the apex court reduced to five years the six year jail term awarded to him by a designated TADA court in 2006. Dutt has already spent one and half years in jail and was out on bail. The court has given the actor four weeks time to surrender.
Director-producer Karan Johar, who has signed Dutt in his upcoming film 'Ungli', said, "I am truly shattered to hear of Sanju's sentence... The nicest guy I have known just doesn't deserve this... My heart goes out to him."
Director Subhash Kapoor, who was recently signed on to shoot the third 'Munnabhai film, said he was surprised by the judgement.
"I am in shock and surprised. I personally expected the Supreme Court to be more lenient to him. Have no words to express my shock," Kapoor told PTI.
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Hrithik Roshan, who played Dutt's adopted son in 'Mission Kashmir' in 2000, said the actor did not deserve it.
"I cannot comprehend. I know the law is the law. But I can bet my life to say that Sanju sir doesn't deserve this! The most loved man! I stand for Sanjay Dutt."
"As per the back-of-the-envelope calculations, around Rs 250 crore are riding on Sanjay, involved in various projects. These projects include big ticket upcoming movies 'Peekay', 'Policegiri', 'Zanjeer', 'Ungli' among others," film industry sources said.
When contacted, a top source at Dharma Productions said, "Bollywood is distraught over the SC judgement. The shooting of 'Ungli' concerning Sanjay Dutt's part is complete and only some portion of it is remaining to be completed.