Sanjay Dutt is currently undergoing treatment at Kokilaben hospital in Mumbai. (Photo: Maanayata Dutt/Instagram)

Maanayata Dutt on Tuesday shared an update about her husband Sanjay Dutt’s health. Maanayata said in a statement that the actor will complete his preliminary treatment for an undisclosed ailment in Mumbai’s Kokilaben hospital and will formulate further plans of treatment “when the covid situation eases.” She also expressed confidence about her husband emerging victorious in this “tough fight”, and urged everyone to “stop speculating the stage of his illness.”

Maanayata started the statement by thanking fans of the Munna Bhai MBBS actor for their “love and warmth.” She wrote, “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.”

In her statement, Maanayata Dutt clarified that the actor is not travelling abroad for treatment for now and the family will decide on it only after COVID-19 situation gets better. “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,” she shared.

Concluding her statement, Maanayata requested people to not speculate “the stage of his (Sanjay Dutt) illness.” She added, “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.”

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.

On Tuesday, Sanjay Dutt was photographed outside his house in Mumbai as he left for the hospital. He was accompanied by Maanayata and his two sisters, Priya and Namrata Dutt. While Maanayata cannot be with Sanjay in the hospital since she is under home quarantine, the actor has the support of Priya and Namrata. As he left, Sanjay requested everyone, “Prarthana Karo (Pray for me)”

The 61-year-old actor was admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital on August 8, after he complained of chest discomfort and his oxygen saturation level dipped.

On August 11, Sanjay Dutt announced that he is taking a “short break from work for “some medical treatment”. The actor shared a note on social media that read. “Hi friends. I am taking a short break from work for some medical treatment. My family and friends are with me and I urge my well-wishers not to worry or unnecessarily speculate. With your love and good wishes, I will be back soon!”

On the work front, Sanjay is awaiting the release of Sadak 2 which will premiere on Disney Plus Hotstar on August 28. The Mahesh Bhatt directorial also stars Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur in the lead roles.