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| "The
LX 470 is the ultimate jeep. Its got everything - comfort, speed,
power, looks and its tough too." |
Macho star Sanjay
Dutt has a new love in his life. Joy Chaudhuri gets you the scoop.
Remember, you read about it here first and not in some film magazine. Sanjay
Dutt has a new love in his life! According to the macho filmstar, she came
into his life just a month and half ago. “She is very beautiful, very
smooth, very fast.”
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Sanjay Dutt’s newest love - the Lexus
LX 470 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
This product from Lexus, the luxury face of Toyota launched in the late
’80s, debuted internationally in February 1998 and embellishes Lexus’
reputation for automotive excellence.
It is quite evident that the LX 470 is a passion for Sanjay Dutt. “It
is the ultimate jeep. I have driven the Mercedes M-class too, but nothing
can beat this beauty. It’s got everything - comfort, speed, power,
looks and it’s tough too. A very powerful V8 petrol engine. Very fast,
very smooth, very beautiful.”
Why a Lexus
when you can have nearly any car in the world? “I had a choice between
a Mercedes, a BMW 7 Series and this Lexus. The LX 470 is better for Indian
roads, speed-breakers and potholes. Also, it puts you in a commanding position.
Mercs and BMWs are too low slung and you have to be so very careful with
them.”
First car, Mr Dutt? “I had a BMW 3 Series a long time ago, followed
by a series of Indian cars because the import duties were too much. Five
years ago, I bought a 5-litre turbodiesel Toyota LandCruiser, another terrific
vehicle. That was the limited edition L package - the interior was Lexus,
the outside was LandCruiser.
“Six months ago I had driven down to Bikaner in my LandCruiser with
a few of my friends, including Ajay Devgan. We were doing around 140kph,
when the rear tyre blew up and got shattered. But the car didn’t swerve
or go out of control. It just sat down there. These cars have an amazing
amount of safety built in.”
LandCruiser.
Lexus. Seems like Sanjay Dutt has a thing for big SUVs. “Not really.
I also like small cars and marques like BMW, Ferrari and Lamborghini but
they’re not worth it here in Mumbai or India because of the road
conditions and traffic.”
Which other car would you like? “I would love to own a BMW 850i,
a Mercedes SLK or a 500 series, but then you have to be so careful.”
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When did his
love affair with cars start? “I have always loved cars. I started driving
when I was thirteen. Even now I drive myself.” Please note, if you
are 13 years old and fancy yourself behind the wheel, banish the thought.
Sanjay Dutt does not recommend it.
Another thing he does not recommend is drinking and driving. “Drunken
driving is an absolute no no. If you go to a party, take your driver along.
I have seen a few friends die because of drinking and driving.”
“It’s happened to me too, years ago. I was driving my BMW 320i
and was pretty ‘high’. Returning from Mumbai airport late at night
I fell asleep at the wheel while doing 120kph. It was near Hotel Centaur
that I woke up to find that I was hitting the road divider. I flew across
the road, tried to turn, but the car swerved around twice, came back and
hit the divider again. Fortunately, thanks to the car’s built-in safety,
we escaped without a scratch, but the car was a wreck.” So, dear reader,
please spread the message -if you drink, don’t drive. And, if you drive,
don’t drink.
Mr Dutt, it’s rumoured you also have a Harley-Davidson tucked away
somewhere.“The Harley was a dream for me. It’s a 1600cc cruiser
but riding it here is a problem because of the road conditions and also
the guys on 100cc bikes who want to race with you. Since it’s a waste
in Mumbai, I have sent it to a friend in Delhi. The roads in the capital
are wider and better and whenever I am in Delhi I do ride it.”
Your dream car? “A Ferrari. A Ferrari 550 Maranello. But I can’t
get it here even if I want to - it would be a waste. We don’t have
the roads to enjoy a supercar like that.”
As I walk out of Mr Dutt’s air conditioned trailer I see an identical,
white Lexus parked behind his black SUV. I investigate and find out that
it belongs to Ajay Devgan. So is the Lexus now the official chariot of the
stars?
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September 2000