For Trishala Dutt, the daughter of Bollywood legend Sanjay Dutt, the lure of the silver screen was never about the craft of acting—it was about the longing for connection. In a candid conversation recently, Trishala opened up about her youthful consideration of Bollywood and her ultimate decision to become a psychotherapist.
Trishala Dutt on joining Bollywood
Trishala Dutt said she once considered joining Bollywood, not because she loved acting but to be closer to her father, Sanjay Dutt. Speaking on the Inside Thoughts Out Loud Podcast, she said, “I did think about that when I was younger. I wasn’t thinking that I wanted to be an actor because acting is my passion. I just wanted to be closer to my dad.” She eventually chose a different path and built a career as a therapist.
Trishala Dutt on choosing therapy over acting
Trishala recalled how Sanjay reacted when she spoke to him about acting. She said, “He’s been through hell and back. And he said, ‘Is this your calling? Do you feel a pull to it?’” She added that he encouraged her to follow her passion rather than depend on his name.Trishala later moved away from acting and chose mental health as her field. She said, “I have internal struggles just like everybody else. I became a therapist to let people know that it’s okay to struggle.” She added that she wanted to be relatable and show that life is not perfect for anyone, even those from film families. She also said conversations around mental health are still limited in the industry.
Trishala Dutt’s childhood and bond with Sanjay Dutt
Born in 1988 to Sanjay Dutt and Richa Sharma, Trishala was raised in the United States by her maternal grandparents after her mother died in 1996. She has spoken about growing up away from her father and India. Reflecting on it, she said, “It’s fine, I guess. I never lived with them to begin with… so I can’t really answer how it feels living without them.”Trishala also praised Deepika Padukone for speaking about depression, calling it “so brave.” Talking about her bond with her father, she said, “Honestly, it feels normal. He’s like any other father.” She added that being with Sanjay feels the same as any daughter spending time with her father.
