Sanjay Dutt’s wife Maanayata Dutt released a new statement on Tuesday to talk about the actor’s health. Sanjay Dutt has been diagnosed with lung cancer of Stage 3. The 61-year-old actor was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after complaining of breathlessness on August 8. He was later discharged from the medical facility on August 10. In her new statement, Maanayata confirmed that the actor’s preliminary treatment will be done in Mumbai and they will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the COVID situation eases. “As of now, Sanju is in the best hands of our esteemed doctors at Kokilaben hospital”, Maanayata added.

Read Maanayata Dutt’s full statement here

“To all of Sanju’s fans and well wishers, I can’t begin to thank you for the love and warmth you have shown him all these years.  Sanju has been through many ups and downs in his life, but what has kept him going through every tough phase has always been your adulation and support. And for this, we will always be grateful. We are now being tested through yet another challenge, and I know, the same love and warmth will see him through this time as well. 

As a family, we have decided to face this with positivity and grace. We are going to go about our life as normally as possible, with a smile, because this will be a tough fight and a long journey. And, we need to do this for Sanju, without any negativity setting in. 

In these trying times, unfortunately, I have been unable to be by his side in the hospital, due to my home quarantine which ends in a couple of days. Every battle has a torchbearer and someone who holds the fort. Priya who has worked extensively over two decades with our family-run Cancer foundation, and who has also seen her mother battle this illness, has been our incredible torchbearer, while I will hold the fort.  

For those asking, Sanju will complete his preliminary treatment in Mumbai. We will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the COVID situation eases. As of now, Sanju is in the best hands of our esteemed doctors at Kokilaben hospital. 

I request everyone, with my folded hands, to stop speculating the stage of his illness and let the doctors continue to do their work. We will update you all regularly with his progress. 

Sanju is not only my husband and father to our children, but he has also been a father figure to Anju and Priya, after losing their parents. 

He is the heart and soul of our family. 

While our family is shaken up, we are determined to fight tooth and nail. With God and your prayers on our side, together we will overcome, and emerge as winners”.

Earlier, Maanayata Dutt issued a statement that read, “I thank everyone who has expressed their well wishes for Sanju’s speedy recovery. We need all the strength and prayers to overcome this phase. There is a lot that the family has gone through in the past years but I am confident this too shall pass. However, it is my heartfelt request to Sanju’s fans to not fall prey to speculations and unwarranted rumours, but to just help us with their ongoing love, warmth and support. Sanju has always been a fighter, and so has our family. God has yet again chosen to test us to overcome the challenges ahead. All we seek is your prayers and blessings, and we know we will emerge as winners on the other side, as we always have. Let us use this opportunity to spread light and positivity.”

On the work front, Sanjay Dutt will be soon seen in Disney + Hotstar’s Sadak 2, a sequel to his 1991 film Sadak. The film also features Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur. His other projects are KGF: Chapter 2, Torbaaz and Bhuj: The Pride Of India, Shamshera and Prithviraj.

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