Mumbai: Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for directing crime dramas and action thrillers such as Kaante, Shootout at Wadala and Kaabil, died at his residence in Mumbai at the age of 57. Several members of the film industry, including Tusshar Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Resul Pookutty, Ashoke Pandit, Rahul Dholakia and Manoj Muntashir, have paid tribute to the director, remembering his contribution to Hindi cinema and his passion for filmmaking.
Gupta’s death was confirmed by family sources and his close collaborator, filmmaker Milap Zaveri. According to initial reports, he was believed to have suffered a fall in his bathroom. The incident reportedly came to light early in the morning.
The Versova police have registered an accidental death report and are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Police officials said they had not found evidence of foul play so far. Ashoke Pandit also said Gupta had suffered a head injury at home.
The sudden death of the filmmaker has left colleagues and collaborators shocked, with several taking to social media to recall their personal associations with him.
Tusshar Kapoor remembers Gupta as someone who lived life fully
Actor Tusshar Kapoor expressed shock over the sudden demise of the filmmaker in a post on X. Kapoor, who had worked with Gupta, remembered him as a person who embraced life and lived it to the fullest.
“Woke up to the sad news about the unfortunate and sudden demise of my beloved director, Sanjay Gupta. Life is so unpredictable, though this man was a lesson in living life to the fullest. My deepest condolences to his family. Rest in peace, sir (sic),” Kapoor wrote.
His message reflected the disbelief felt by several members of the film fraternity following the news. Kapoor also offered condolences to Gupta’s family and remembered the filmmaker with affection.
Actor Sonu Sood, meanwhile, recalled his time working with Gupta on film sets. In his tribute, Sood said the memories they had created during their professional association would remain close to his heart.
“Will always miss you, brother Sanjay. The memories of our time together on the sets will always stay close to my heart (sic),” Sood wrote on X.
Sood’s message highlighted the personal bond he shared with the director beyond their professional work.
Resul Pookutty recalls 25 years of association
Sound designer Resul Pookutty also paid an emotional tribute to Gupta, recalling that they had worked together for 25 years. In a post on Instagram, Pookutty described the news as shocking and said he was struggling to process the filmmaker’s death.
“What terrible and shocking news for me personally and for our friends and family. This is not a way to go. Twenty-five years of working together, and I am still not able to process this,” he wrote.
Pookutty remembered Gupta’s deep affection for cinema and described him as one of the sensible voices in mainstream Hindi filmmaking.
“Your love for cinema was unparalleled. We will miss you, one of the sanest voices in mainstream Hindi cinema. May your soul rest in peace (sic),” he added.
His tribute underlined the long professional relationship between the two and the respect Gupta commanded among people who worked closely with him.
Ashoke Pandit confirms head injury at home
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit described Gupta as an accomplished director, a gifted storyteller and a passionate film enthusiast. He said he was shocked after receiving the news of his friend’s death.
In his tribute, Pandit stated that Gupta had died following a head injury at home. He also remembered the filmmaker’s ability to narrate stories and his lively personality.
“It is really shocking and sad. I have just received the news that our dear friend and ace director Sanjay Gupta is no more. He died following a head injury at home. Another talent gone too soon. He was a wonderful narrator, a person full of life and a passionate filmmaker. It is a great loss to our industry,” Pandit wrote.
He added that he would miss his friend and offered condolences to Gupta’s family and loved ones. Pandit also said details of the last rites would be shared soon.
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the circumstances of Gupta’s death is continuing. The accidental death report has been registered, and officials have said that no evidence of foul play has been found so far.
Rahul Dholakia remembers Gupta’s filmmaking style
Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, known for directing Raees, also expressed shock over Gupta’s death. Recalling an interaction from many years ago, Dholakia described him as a stylish filmmaker who had a distinctive approach to presenting film ideas.
According to Dholakia, Gupta may have been among the early directors to prepare trailers and promotional edits to pitch projects to actors and distributors. The approach reflected his understanding of how promotional material could help communicate a film’s vision before production.
Dholakia also identified Kaante as his favourite film from Gupta’s body of work. He recalled the song Cigarette Ke Dhuen as a regular favourite at parties.
“Shocking. I met Sanjay Gupta once, a very long time ago. He was quite a stylish filmmaker, perhaps the first to present trailers and cut promos to pitch a film idea to actors and distributors. From his filmography, Kaante remains my favourite. And ‘Cigarette Ke Dhuen’ was always a party favourite. Gone too soon, Gupts (sic),” he wrote.
His tribute drew attention to Gupta’s influence on the presentation and promotion of commercial Hindi films.
Manoj Muntashir recalls conversations about poetry
Lyricist and writer Manoj Muntashir, who worked with Gupta on two films, including Kaabil, remembered the long conversations they shared over cups of tea.
Muntashir said their professional association gave him an opportunity to discover another side of the filmmaker. Beyond his work in cinema, Gupta had a strong interest in poetry and storytelling.
“We worked together on only two films, one of which was Kaabil. In the time we spent together, I learnt that Sanjay was not just an outstanding filmmaker but also an incredible friend. Tea after tea, poem after poem, those sessions would sometimes stretch on for hours (sic),” Muntashir wrote on X.
He further revealed that Gupta himself was a gifted poet, although this side of his personality was not widely known.
“Very few people know that Sanjay himself was a poet of the highest calibre. He had no equal when it came to listening well and telling stories well. Those gatherings will be missed. Farewell, my friend (sic),” he added.
Muntashir’s tribute offered a glimpse into Gupta’s interests outside filmmaking and the conversations that shaped their friendship.
Sanjay Gupta’s career spanned more than three decades
Gupta built a career spanning more than three decades, directing films across crime, action and thriller genres. His work was often associated with gangster stories, stylised action sequences and narratives centred on the Mumbai underworld.
He came into prominence with films such as Aatish: Feel The Fire, which helped establish his interest in crime-based storytelling. He later directed Kaante, a film that became one of the most recognised titles in his filmography.
Kaante was followed by projects such as Shootout at Wadala, which further strengthened his association with action-packed crime dramas. He also directed Kaabil, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam, demonstrating his willingness to explore different emotional and narrative themes within mainstream cinema.
His career, however, was not without setbacks. Gupta faced difficult phases and professional disagreements during his time in the industry. In earlier interviews, he had spoken about fallouts with actors and the challenges of maintaining professional relationships in Bollywood.
Despite these difficulties, he returned to filmmaking and continued directing projects in the later stages of his career. His subsequent works included Mumbai Saga, Visfot and The Miranda Brothers.
Over the years, Gupta developed a recognisable filmmaking style that combined crime narratives with dramatic action and commercial storytelling. His films and collaborations also brought him into contact with several actors, technicians, writers and music professionals, many of whom have now remembered him through their tributes.
Film industry mourns the sudden loss
The tributes from Tusshar Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Resul Pookutty, Ashoke Pandit, Rahul Dholakia and Manoj Muntashir reflect the different relationships Gupta built during his career. While some remembered him as a director and collaborator, others highlighted his storytelling skills, his love for cinema and his interest in poetry.
Gupta’s death at 57 marks the loss of a filmmaker whose work remained closely associated with Hindi cinema’s crime and action genres. As the industry comes to terms with the news, colleagues and friends continue to remember him through the films he made and the personal memories they shared with him.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation by the Versova police. Details of his last rites are expected to be shared by the family.