MUMBAI:

Top Bollywood personalities say the sentence of six years’ rigorous imprisonment for Sanjay Dutt in the Mumbai serial bombings case is too harsh a punishment for the star.

David Dhawan: My wife Laali and I were with Sanju on his birthday on Sunday (July 29). We had so much fun. We were so sure that he’d come out of this. Little did we know what awaited Sanju two days later! Life’s not fair! Sanju is god’s

child. Always ready with a smile to help everyone,

me included. Do you know he got me my first break as director! He even got my assistant Ajay a break as director. He has given so much to so many people, not half of it is known.

For now the industry has come to a standstill. No one wants to celebrate. No parties, no premieres. It’s really sad because that man has gone through so much pain. When will it end?

Hema Malini: I feel terrible for him. We all go through problems. And I can feel the trauma his family is going through. But when the legal verdict is passed there’s nothing we can do or say.

Abhishek Bachchan: This is very upsetting.

Priyanka Chopra: I’m shocked and upset. I wish him and his family strength and courage.

Bipasha Basu: I’m shocked. I feel very sad. He has suffered enough. His suffering should’ve stopped by now.

Raveena Tandon: This is too shocking. He’s a victim of circumstances and follies. The law is equal for all. And we respect the country’s laws. But six years seems a bit harsh, considering the kind of person Sanjay is.

Preity Zinta: I’m deeply saddened. In my heart I’m saying a prayer and I’m looking above for an end to Sanjay’s problems. He made a mistake, but he is not a bad guy. In fact, he’s a terrific guy.

Anil Kapoor: I’m sad and shocked.

Mahesh Bhatt: I get the feeling of déjà vu. It’s like a recurring nightmare, which just won’t go away.

Manoj Bajpai: I’m nobody to question the verdict. But I’m too saddened by it to even talk about it. I hope he gets bail at the earliest. We’re all praying for him.

Urmila Matondkar: This is extremely sad and deeply saddening.

Madhur Bhandarkar: I can’t get over the enormity of the news! The whole film fraternity is in a state of shock. My heartfelt sympathies and support for the Dutt family.

Vikram Bhatt: Sanjay’s sentence is very depressing. I can’t comment on the intricacies of the law. But as a human being I feel he has suffered enough. He’s not a criminal. Just a man who made a silly mistake in troubled times when it was hard to keep one’s value judgement clear.

Vipul Shah: Everyone knows he did it purely to protect his family. So to me he is a good man. At the same time according to the law his conduct was incorrect. So this was, I guess, inevitable.

Arshad Warsi: I’m sorry I can’t respond to you. If I did, it’d look like I’m trying to get publicity out of a friend’s misery.