"He is like my son. I grieve for every person who commits a mistake and gets punished for it. When it happens to a family member, my heart weeps," the actor said at a media conference at the PVR Cinemas, Avani Riverside mall in Howrah.
"The film industry is our small family and Sanjay Dutt is like my son. Law will take its course, and I pray that my son Sanju is released fast," he said.
The actor, best known for films like "Sholay" and "Satyakam", was in Kolkata to promote his forthcoming film, Sangeeth Sivan's comedy drama "Yamla Pagla Deewana 2" (YPD) - a sequel to the original.
YPD2, slated to release June 7, stars Dharmendra with his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol in the lead. Giving them company on-screen are leading ladies Neha Sharma and debutant Christina Akheeva.