MUMBAI: Actor Sanjay Dutt, convicted under the Arms Act for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, on Monday sought more time from the Supreme Court to surrender.

Pleading that he had to do dubbing for a number of his pending films, the actor appealed to the apex court to give him six more months before his imprisonment.

Dutt was sentenced to five years in jail by the Supreme Court March 21 for illegal arms possession during the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

He was asked to surrender in four weeks to serve his remaining term of three-and-half years as he has already spent 18 months in jail.

The actor has been on bail since 2007 when he appealed against an original sentence of six years for the illegal possession of weapons in a case linked to the attacks that killed 257 people.

Earlier the actor who was handed a reduced term of five years by the apex court had stated he would not appeal against the sentence.

He had said, "I will surrender in the given time of Supreme Court. I have not applied for any pardon. I want to tell the media and the citizens of our country, when I am not going for a pardon, then there is no debate about it."

Dutt was the most high-profile of 100 people involved in the Mumbai bombings trial which ended with 12 people receiving the death penalty and 20 others given life sentences.

In 2007, he was cleared of conspiracy charges in the attacks but found guilty of illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle and a pistol which he claimed were to protect him and his family during a period of rioting in Mumbai.

Sanjay, who is due to surrender for serving his sentence in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, had earlier expressed a desire to return to forthwith return to the "Munna Bhai" once he is set free.

The 53-year-old actor, who has films like the "Zanjeer" remake, "Policegiri","P.K." and the next "Munna Bhai" instalment in the works, was charged with illegal possession of arms and sentenced to six years in jail in 2007. The Supreme Court March 21 handed him a reduced term of five years. 

(With inputs from the Agencies)