Mumbai, July 29 - On his 50th birthday Wednesday, Bollywood's troubled star Sanjay Dutt says his only wish is to leave his chequered past behind and move ahead as a free man.

'In the last 18 years, I've been fighting for my freedom and I feel the burden of the struggle now. I want to be free,' Sanjay told IANS from Cape Town, South Africa.

'I want to walk into any consulate and get my visa. I want my passport to be with me. I want to visit any country I want. Most important of all I want the court cases to end,' added the actor who battled with drug addiction and was also convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts under the arms act.

He says now he wishes for his 'freedom'.

'Can you gift me my freedom for my birthday? Otherwise the biggest gift god has given me is my wife Manyata. I'm very lucky to have her by my side,' said the actor who is currently in Cape Town shooting 'No Problem'

Friends from different parts of the world have flown in to celebrate the day and Sanjay says he also wanted his sisters - Namrata and Priya - to join him on this special day in his life.

'I've invited them. The day I turn 50 is important for me. And I'd like my family to be near me. I wish they could be here. No matter what misunderstandings we had, I'd like to wash them away on my 50th birthday.'

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: In Mumbai, the buzz is that your friends and family are flying in for your birthday?

A: I don't want any celebrations until Amar Singhji (Samajwadi Party general secretary) recovers. Once he returns to Delhi, I'll have a birthday celebration with him. But I heard from the grapevine here that the unit of 'No Problem' are planning a small get-together for my birthday. But when I asked them they said, no party. But my friends are flying down.

Q: Who are they?

A: Paresh from Chicago. I've known him for the last 25 years. We've grown up together. Then there's Mac from Los Angeles, another old and dear friend. Imran Ismail, who's here in South Africa. These are my three best friends who will be here on my birthday.

Q: And from Mumbai?

A: Well I heard Bunty Walia is coming. Everything he does is announced on Facebook. So he has announced he's coming for my birthday.