Suniel Shetty campaigns for Sena after Dutt nod

The Bollywood star finally hit the road in support of buddy Sanjay Nirupam.

Film star Suniel Shetty finally hit the road on Saturday in support of buddy Sanjay Nirupam, the Shiv Sena nominee from Mumbai North-West. A good number of lesser-known film and TV actors followed in another jeep — and conducted a running commentary on his antics.

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Nirupam had finally managed to get a handful of stars to campaign for him as Sunil Dutt, the Congress candidate from the same constituency, had tacitly made it clear to his colleagues in the film industry that there was no need for them to resist the pressure from Bal Thackeray because of him. That came as a relief to Shetty more than others because he was torn between two friends: Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Nirupam.

Meanwhile, actor Salman Khan has expressed his support for Sunil Dutt. "Dutt Saab is an institution. He has done so much work in his area. We are all with him and my family will vote for him,' he said on Saturday.

Shetty, who had earlier announced that he would campaign for Nirupam as well as Sunil Dutt, looked visibly tired after two hours of standing in the open jeep beside Nirupam. Resting on one leg and then the other, he kept receiving calls on his mobile and looked uneasy. "I am an artist and can pull crowds. So I am here. If asked, I can do this for other friends as well," the actor said and took refuge from the heat and dust in the car in which hockey player Dhanraj Pillai was waiting for them near Kurla road.

But Nirupam wanted someone beside him. "Dhanraj, come here. Come with me," he hollered. And Pillai immediately obeyed him. After all, Nirupam is a Thackeray favourite. And who can brave the wrath of the Sena tiger?