Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for directing crime dramas and action thrillers such as Kaante, Shootout at Wadala and Kaabil, has died following an accidental fall at his Mumbai residence. His death has prompted tributes from members of the film industry, including longtime friend and actor Sanjay Dutt, who has pledged to make Kaante 2 in the filmmaker’s memory.

Dutt shared photographs with Gupta on Instagram, recalling their longstanding friendship and the many years they spent together. He also revealed that the two had recently discussed revisiting their 2002 crime drama Kaante, which featured an ensemble cast led by Amitabh Bachchan, Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Lucky Ali and Mahesh Manjrekar.

In his tribute, Dutt addressed the filmmaker as his brother and said he was struggling to come to terms with his death. He recalled their shared memories and described Gupta as family.

The actor also promised to take forward their plans for the sequel. Dutt wrote that he would do everything possible to turn Gupta’s dream of Kaante 2 into reality, dedicating the project to his late friend.

Sanjay Gupta’s death and police investigation

Gupta was found dead at his residence in Mumbai after reportedly suffering a fall in his bathroom the previous night. According to the initial account, the incident went unnoticed until the following morning.

The Versova police have registered an accidental death report and are investigating the circumstances. Police have said that no evidence of foul play has been found so far.

Family sources and filmmaker Milap Zaveri confirmed Gupta’s death. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also expressed grief on social media, stating that Gupta had suffered a head injury at home.

Pandit remembered him as a passionate filmmaker and an engaging storyteller who brought considerable energy to his work. He also offered condolences to Gupta’s family and loved ones.

Gupta was married to Anu Lekhi. The couple divorced before later marrying each other again.

A friendship that began on a film set

Gupta and Dutt shared a friendship that extended across decades and several film collaborations. Their association began in 1990 on the sets of Thanedaar, directed by Raj Sippy, where Gupta worked as an assistant director and Dutt played the lead role.

Four years later, Dutt featured in Gupta’s directorial debut, Aatish: Feel the Fire. The two subsequently worked together on films including Khauff, Jung, Kaante, Musafir, Plan, Zinda and Shootout at Lokhandwala. Their association also included the anthology film Dus Kahaniyaan.

Their relationship, however, encountered difficulties during the making of Shootout at Lokhandwala. Differences reportedly led to a prolonged period of estrangement. In an interview with The Times of India in 2013, Gupta recalled that the two had not spoken for three years before reconciling at Amitabh Bachchan’s 70th birthday celebration in 2012.

Despite their disagreements, their friendship endured, and Dutt’s latest tribute reflects the personal significance of their association beyond their professional collaborations.

Suniel Shetty remembers the filmmaker

Actor Suniel Shetty, who worked with Gupta on Kaante and Mumbai Saga, also paid tribute to the director.

Shetty recalled the time they spent making films together, sharing conversations and exchanging ideas. He said the news had been difficult to process and remembered the laughter, disagreements and experiences they had shared over the years.

The actor’s tribute added to the expressions of grief from colleagues who had worked with Gupta throughout his career.

From ‘Kaante’ to ‘Shootout at Wadala’: A career of highs and lows

Gupta made his directorial debut with Aatish: Feel the Fire in 1994, but it was Kaante in 2002 that established his reputation in the gangster-thriller genre. The film, which drew inspiration from the crime-film tradition, brought together several prominent actors and became one of the defining projects of his career.

Gupta later described his professional journey as a mix of successes and setbacks. Following a fallout with Dutt, he said he found it difficult to secure work and believed that much of the industry had become reluctant to collaborate with him.

In a 2019 interview with PTI, Gupta said people around Dutt had discouraged others from working with him after the disagreement. He clarified that Dutt himself had not instructed anyone to avoid collaborating with him.

The filmmaker described that period as one of the lowest points in his life. At one stage, he began working at a hotel in Khandala four days a week, having nearly given up on the possibility of continuing his filmmaking career.

The birth of his son eventually prompted him to reconsider. Gupta recalled questioning why he was prepared to abandon a profession he had pursued since his teenage years. He had started working at 15 and directed his first film at 22.

He then approached producer Ektaa Kapoor, with whom he had previously discussed a sequel to Shootout at Lokhandwala. Gupta said he told her he was ready to return to filmmaking. He subsequently approached John Abraham and Anil Kapoor, who agreed to work with him.

Gupta credited Anil Kapoor with publicly supporting him during the difficult phase. Kapoor had said he would reconsider working with Gupta only if Dutt personally gave him a reason not to, a gesture the filmmaker later described as gracious.

The experience also changed Gupta’s approach to personal and professional relationships. He said he learnt not to expect every friendship to translate into a working partnership and became more conscious of maintaining boundaries.

Later films and legacy

Gupta returned to the big screen with Shootout at Wadala in 2013. He went on to direct Jazbaa in 2015 and Kaabil in 2017, followed by projects including Mumbai Saga, Visfot and The Miranda Brothers.

Known for his crime narratives, action-driven storytelling and ensemble casts, Gupta built a filmography that included both commercial successes and challenging periods. His career was closely linked to several actors, particularly Dutt, with whom he shared one of his most enduring creative partnerships.

Dutt’s promise to pursue Kaante 2 now gives their final discussions a new significance, as the actor seeks to carry forward a project the filmmaker had hoped to make.