"She wanted to see a (glamorous) show like that. Of course, I was aware her presence would make people curious. But I never imagined they'd start maligning her name. That's a terrible thing to do. She's a sweet simple soul. I can't imagine why they're saying such terrible things about her. I wish people would leave the two of us alone." 
He is more than willing to step out in the open with her but doesn't appreciate media speculation.

"Why rake it up just to humiliate her? This is especially unfair since what's been written about her is untrue. How can they pull her down just because she is involved with me?
"Of course, I'm proud of her. My intention of taking her to the awards function was very simple. She had never been to a grand awards function and I wanted her to see one," said Sanjay.

"So far I've been so tied down with my court cases I've had no time for anything. But, now, that I'm hopefully out of it I promise a better image to myself. I was so tense because of my court cases that I couldn't work. I didn't shoot for six months.

"God has been kind and I've full faith in the judiciary. I wish things would become okay in my life again. I've been alone for a large part of my life. After dad's (Sunil Dutt) death I feel especially alone."

But he is willing to carry forward his father's legacy. 
I now feel like the man of the family. I've watched my sisters grow up. I feel responsible towards them. I've got to carry my dad's good work forward. I've taken over dad's charitable work, with the cancer foundation, for AIDS and his efforts with an institute called SUPPORT to help street kids overcome drug addiction."

Now, perhaps, Sanjay needs to think about himself a bit.
"I feel the need to settle down. I'm still not able to go out of the country. But my daughter (who lives in the US) keeps visiting. My daughter is all of 18 now. She's attending a college in the US; her chosen subject is forensic science."
He became emotional while talking about the film industry's support.
"When they decided to do a signature campaign for me in December I stopped them. I'm just too grateful to them for standing by me. Without them I don't know what I'd have done." 
Meanwhile the presence of Dilnawaz Shaikh aka Manyata at the airport with Sanjay Dutt and his daughter Trishala made it evident that the Dutt family has accepted the new girl. Sources say things are now settled in the family. They explain that the idea of asking Dutt’s daughter to fly down to Mumbai was so he could tell her about the new woman in his life. During Trishala’s week-long stay in Mumbai, she spent most of her time with Manyata and her father.