To be free is the most amazing feeling: Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt heaved a huge sigh of relief on Thursday afternoon, while speaking to the press after his release from Yerwada Jail, Pune.

“To be free is the most amazing feeling. For 23 years I have been waiting for this moment… for freedom. I did everything (followed the law). It’s a feeling that will take a while to sink in,” said Dutt, according to Indian Express.

Clad in a white kurta, jeans with a tilak on his forehead, a smiling Dutt also said, “I miss my father (Sunil Dutt) today. I wish he was alive to see this day…if he would have been (alive), he would have been the happiest person,” he said.

He went on to heap praises on his 'best half', Mantaya:

“Whenever I was getting weak, she was my pillar of strength. I think she suffered more than me as she had to look after two kids, bring them up, take decisions,” said the Bollywood actor.

“She is not my better half, but my best half. Manyata is my strength,” he added, holding his wife’s hand who stood behind him during the press conference.

Sanjay Dutt told reporters that he learned small jobs like making paper bags and entertained other prisoners by spending time as a radio jockey while in prison. When asked about his earnings in jail, Dutt said in a lighter vein, “Like a good husband I gave all the money to my wife.”

He said now he would like to spend quality time with his family and kids.

More from the press conference

On Justice P D Kode absolving him of the terror tag

“The court had said I am not a terrorist. That was a big thing. I wish my father was alive to hear this. Even the Supreme Court had endorsed it.”

On the criticism over being granted remission and multiple furloughs

“It’s a misconception (that he got preferential treatment for leaves). It has nothing to do with me being a celebrity as I was also not allowed to do many things. May be, it (celebrity status) went against me.”

On touching the ground and saluting the Indian flag upon walking out of jail:

“I am proud to be an Indian, that is why I kissed the earth and saluted the tricolour when I came out.”

On his last day in jail

The actor said he did not sleep and he even did not have food for the last four days. “I was like I will be out of jail…not come here again (jail).”

On Ranbir Kapoor doing a biopic on him

“I love him.”