Sanjay Gupta, Director Of 'Kaante' And 'Shootout At Wadala', Dies At 57

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for directing crime dramas and action thrillers such as 'Kaante', 'Shootout at Wadala', 'Jazbaa' and 'Kaabil', died at his Mumbai residence on Friday night. He was 57.

According to reports, Gupta reportedly suffered a fall in his bathroom, resulting in a head injury. His death was discovered early Saturday morning. Versova police have registered an accidental death report and are investigating the circumstances. Police said there was no evidence of foul play so far.

Family sources and close collaborator Milap Zaveri confirmed his death. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also expressed grief, saying Gupta died after suffering a head injury at home. Describing him as a passionate filmmaker and a lively person, Pandit called his death a significant loss to the film industry.

Gupta made his directorial debut with 'Aatish: Feel The Fire' in 1994. His breakthrough came with the 2002 gangster drama 'Kaante', featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Lucky Ali and Mahesh Manjrekar. The film established his reputation in the gangster-thriller genre.

However, his career subsequently faced a difficult phase following a fallout with Sanjay Dutt. Gupta had told PTI that nearly 90 per cent of the industry was unwilling to work with him, although he clarified that Dutt had not personally asked anyone to avoid collaborating with him.

Calling it an exceptionally low period, Gupta said he had almost quit filmmaking and started working at a hotel in Khandala four days a week. The birth of his son eventually motivated him to return to cinema. He approached producer Ektaa Kapoor about 'Shootout at Wadala' and secured the support of John Abraham and Anil Kapoor, despite industry reservations.

Gupta credited Anil Kapoor for publicly supporting him during the difficult period. He later said the experience taught him to maintain a balance between professional and personal relationships.

Gupta returned with 'Shootout at Wadala' in 2013, followed by 'Jazbaa' (2015), 'Kaabil' (2017), 'Mumbai Saga' (2021), 'Visfot' and 'The Miranda Brothers'. He had described his 25-year filmmaking journey as a mixture of hits and misses, saying he was proud of overcoming professional setbacks.

Gupta was married to Anu Lekhi. The couple divorced before eventually remarrying.