Besides being a big supporter of secularism, he was totally against the concept of dowry and it is said that he told his wife to come in the same dress that she wore during the wedding to his house. He also made a film "Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi" on this topic.
Declared his assets of around 200 million Rupees before going for elections.
Has three children: one son, Bollywood actor, Sanjay Dutt, and two daughters, Namrata and Priya. His daughter-in-law, Sanjay's first wife, died of cancer. His second daughter-in-law is Rhea Pillai.
His daughter (Namrata) is actor Kumar Gaurav's wife and actor Rajendra Kumar's daughter-in-law.
Prior to his death, he was youth affairs and sports minister with the ruling Congress coalition government. He was a popular politician and one of the first actors from Bombay's huge movie industry to enter politics. He was elected five times as a member of parliament.
Sunil Dutt's daughter, Priya, will be the Congress party candidate for the Bombay North West Constituency, which was represented by her dad.
Survived a plane crash and a bad car accident.