Sanjay Gupta dies in Mumbai; police investigate circumstances

Sanjay Gupta has died at his home in Mumbai, with family sources and film colleagues confirming the news on October 31. Police have opened an accidental death report at Versova and are examining the circumstances, according to reports.

Police sources said there was no indication of foul play at this stage. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit attributed the death to a head injury in a social media post, although an official confirmation of the cause had not been reported.

Pandit remembered Gupta's enthusiasm for filmmaking and his ability to tell stories, while offering condolences to his family. He said information about the last rites would be communicated later.

A career spanning action films and crime dramas

Sanjay Gupta began directing with Aatish: Feel the Fire in 1994. The film featured Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor, and was followed by further work in action cinema.

Kaante, released in 2002, became an important breakthrough in his career. Its ensemble included Amitabh Bachchan, Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Lucky Ali and Mahesh Manjrekar; the heist film drew inspiration from Reservoir Dogs.

His subsequent filmography included Musafir and Plan in 2004, followed by Zinda in 2006. He directed Shootout at Wadala in 2013, Jazbaa in 2015 and Kaabil in 2017, while later projects included Mumbai Saga and The Miranda Brothers.

Gupta had previously spoken about professional setbacks and his return to directing after a difficult period. In those recollections, he credited support from colleagues including Anil Kapoor as he resumed work on Shootout at Wadala.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh also expressed grief, recalling a recent meeting with the director. Filmmaker Kunal Kohli remembered their conversations and time together on an awards jury, and offered support to Gupta's family.

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