It was not the sentence Sanjay Dutt expected when he walked into the special court hearing the Mumbai 1993 blasts case.
Wearing a white checked shirt and blue jeans, he arrived with friends - including Bollywood director Sanjay Gupta.
In court he seemed a little nervous but relaxed as he went about shaking hands and hugging people who wished him well.
He was smiling and talking to all the people he recognised, including this correspondent, to whom he said: "We must listen to [Pink] Floyd together at some point."
This was a reference to a conversation he had had a couple of weeks ago with some journalists, including me, about how he enjoyed listening to rock groups.
Plea
When Judge P D Kode announced his decision of denying the actor's probation plea and sentencing him to six years in jail, there was shock on the actor's face.
Announcing the sentence, Judge Kode said: "Laws of the nation must be respected. If you don't respect laws then you can't be called a moral person."
He said that although Dutt could not be linked to the bombings, he should be jailed for buying firearms from the bombers.
The actor's face turned red. He seemed to be holding back tears as he heard the sentence.
Soon after, Dutt pleaded for more time with his loved ones.
He said: "Your Honour, I am requesting you to let me speak to family, my sister is pregnant... I thought I would get probation that's why I am not prepared, give me time to wind things up."
The judge however denied the request saying he could not do so legally.
The actor then asked the judge to let him speak to his daughter who is studying in New York - a request the court granted.
Dutt was in constant talks with his lawyers and seemed to discuss the next course of action.
He will be taken to Arthur Road jail in Mumbai where he will be kept until 2 August.
'Strong man'
The defence says it will launch an appeal in the Supreme Court.
"We think that the judgement is harsh," defence lawyer Satish Maneshinde told reporters.
"He isn't a criminal - what was the need to give him six years?"
Mr Maneshinde also said film producers and directors are standing by the actor and have not asked for refunds.
Millions of rupees are riding on the actor at the moment as at least two projects are still in production and nowhere near completion.
Film director and close friend Bunty Walia told the BBC he was "saddened" by the verdict.
He said: "As for his ongoing projects, I think he will be given bail by the Supreme Court and most of the producers will wait until he is out of jail."
Many of his fans standing outside court were also shocked by the sentence.
"He is a good guy, he should have been sentenced but not for six years. I think that was too harsh," said one.
Another fan said: "I agree he has wronged and therefore should be punished but he isn't a criminal. What was the need to give him six years? He has already done almost two years in jail, another year should have sufficed."
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