31 October,2026 02:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sanjay Gupta dies (Pic/X)
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for stylish actioners like Kaante and Shootout at Lokhandwala, had passed away aged 59. The director died following a head injury after suffering a fall in the kitchen of his Mumbai residence at Friday night, family sources tell mid-day. Further details about the demise are awaited.
The filmmaker is survived by wife Anuradha Gupta, son Shivansh Gupta and daughter Dalai Gupta.
"Hindi film producer Sanjay Gupta died after allegedly losing his balance and falling inside his bungalow in the Versova police station jurisdiction around midnight. He sustained a head injury and suffered heavy bleeding. His wife, two children and domestic help were also staying at the bungalow. However, all of them were asleep at the time, and the incident came to light only in the morning. The family has expressed no suspicion or lodged any complaint. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Versova police have initiated an inquiry into the accidental death to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident." -- Mumbai Police
Gupta, who last helmed the 2024 film The Miranda Brothers, had announced earlier this year that he was set to develop the sequel to his 2017 superhit film Kaabil that starred Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam.
Over the years, he became associated with gangster dramas. One of his most recognised films remains Kaante (2002), which he directed and produced. His other directorial credits included Dus Kahaniyaan, Acid Factory, Mumbai Saga among others.
Sanjay Gupta stepped into the world of cinema in 1994 with Aatish: Feel the Fire starring Aditya Pancholi and Sanjay Dutt. He then went on to direct and write movies such as Ram Shastra, Khauff and Jung. Over a career spanning decades, Gupta collaborated with actor Sanjay Dutt in numerous films sucha as Kaante, Musafir, Zinda and Shootout at Lokhandwala among others. Zinda was an unofficial remake of the South Korean film Oldboy.
While the filmmaker made several hits with Sanjay Dutt, the two had a bitter fallout right after the release of Shootout at Lokhandwala in 2007. Their personal and professional partnership abruptly ended amid allegations of financial bungling within their production house. The rift became bitter; Gupta once stated they would never be friends again in this life, to which Dutt famously retorted that they wouldn't be friends in any future lives either. The pair patched up at Amitabh Bachchan's 70th birthday party in October 2012.
Gupta had recently reacted to a fans post on Kaabil and confirmed it's sequel. A journalist on X (formerly Twitter) praised the film saying, "One of my absolute top picks as far as revenge thrillers go! iHrithik in top form as a blind protagonist in this excellent SanjayGupta cliffhanger. My only question is WHEN do we get to see Kaabil2 muchawaited." The tweet reached filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, who took time to reply to the fan and wrote, "IT'S R E FLA D Y ! ! ! And this time far DEADELLIER!!!!"
