Sanjay Dutt's Bollywood friends offer campaign help

Mumbai, March 21 (IANS) Sanjay Dutt is yet to get the green signal from the Supreme Court to contest the Lok Sabha elections, but many of his friends in Bollywood have already volunteered to campaign for him.

Among the leading stars who have already put a sizeable chunk of their time aside to follow Dutt on his campaign trail in Lucknow are Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi and director David Dhawan.

'You've got the names right. The people you've mentioned are already on. We didn't even have to ask them,' said Dharam Oberoi, CEO of Sanjay Dutt Films.

'We will approach other friends as soon as Dutt is cleared by the court. All his life Dutt has been there for the film industry and I'm sure the industry would love to come forward for him now,' Oberoi told IANS.

'We feel Sanju will be the first Bollywood star in parliament who will work selflessly for the improvement of the film industry. The others have had divided interests or none at all,' said a source close to the 'Munnabhai' star.

Dutt is the Samajwadi Party's nominee for the prestigious Lucknow Lok Sabha seat. But his entry into politics awaits the Supreme Court nod, necessary because of an anti-terror court convicting him under the Arms Act for stocking arms ahead of the 1993 Mumbai bombings.

Dutt, who is currently camping in Lucknow, is enjoying his hectic political schedule.

'It's a hectic schedule. I've rallies and meetings from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. But I'm enjoying myself. Yes, I'm learning to be comfortable addressing crowds,' the actor said.

Another star game to rally behind Dutt is his close friend Suniel Shetty.

'Anytime Baba wants me I'm there for him. He just has to tell me when to come to Lucknow,' said Shetty.

Shetty is also ready to campaign for Shatrughan Sinha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Patna Saheb in Bihar,

'For sure. All he has to do is ask. Sanju and Shatruji are the film industry's 3 a.m. friends,' the actor said.