Sanjay dons Good Samaritan hat

As the countdown to Sanjay Dutt's sentencing speeds along, the actor's philanthropic interests, it seems, seem to be keeping pace.

A few days ago, Dutt was seen praying in a church, visiting cancer patients and interacting with orphans with the cameras flashing no less.

The actor's latest appearance was playing the Good Samaritan at a children's hospital, and, yes, the media was invited.

For an actor known for his reticent ways, publicity surprisingly seems to be the key word in his dictionary these days. And what might be the reason for this sudden surge in public appearances? "Putting a smile on anybody's face and giving them some happiness makes me feel good about myself," says the actor.

Apparently, Munnabhai is not willing to throw in the towel just yet. From visiting an orphanage to a kid's hospital, Dutt seems to be making a very transparent bid to earn some brownie points and quickly.