Right after Sanjay Dutt was barred from contesting Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party leaders got together and decided that Dutt’s wife Maanyata should take his place. But for the first time the actor went against mentor Amar Singh’s advice and refused to let his wife contest from the Lucknow constituency.

Sanjay, who has never been keen on the women from his family entering politics, prefers to have his wife firmly by his side at home. Maanyata is known to manage everything from what the actor eats and wears, to whom the actor meets. So, when her name came up in the emergency party meeting, Sanjay is said to have taken Singh aside and explained his reluctance. Maanyata’s name was quickly dropped, and she personally called up Singh and excused herself from politics. The Samajwadi Party has now decided that even if Sanjay can’t contest the elections, he can be actively involved in party politics.