Namrata Shirodkar reveals that Sanjay Dutt was the first to know about her relationship with Mahesh Babu

In a recent interview, actress Namrata Shirodkar stated that her ‘Vaastav’ co-star Sanjay Dutt is warm, chivalrous, protective and deeply misunderstood. Interestingly, he was the first to know about Namrata’s relationship with South actor and filmmaker Mahesh Babu.

Namrata and Mahesh tied the knot in 2005, and apparently, Bollywood’s Sanju Baba left no stone unturned in teasing the actress when he got to know about their romance. Namrata recalls how she ensured that the camaraderie and warmth shared between the co-stars were restricted to the sets. But that wasn’t the case with Sanjay and her, as she had a “terrific rapport” with him.

“I recall him as a warm, chivalrous and protective co-star. Whenever we were shooting in crowds, he would look after me... he’d ensure the crowds didn’t come too close. I don’t remember any other co-star or, for that matter, anyone from the cast or crew being so concerned about my safety,” Namrata said during the interview with a news portal. She mentioned that she confided in Sanju about Mahesh, and also paid the price for it, as Sanju would endlessly pull her leg on the sets of ‘Vaastav’.

The crime drama film, written and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, starring Sanjay and Namrata, hit the screens in October 1999.