Sanjay Gupta Dies After Fall; Film Fraternity Gathers to Mourn

Sanjay Gupta's death has sent shockwaves through the Hindi film industry. The director died at his Mumbai home, and a steady stream of actors and filmmakers visited his residence on Saturday to offer their final tributes.

What began as a quiet home visit soon became an emotional gathering. Ronit Roy broke down several times as those around him tried to calm him. Rohit Roy was also visibly moved and kept wiping his tears. Actor Sudhanshu Pandey accompanied the brothers, and all of them conveyed their condolences to Gupta's family.

Fardeen Khan, Dabboo Ratnani, Ashok Pandit, Manu Rishi, Manoj Bajpayee and Meezaan Jafri were among the others who came to bid the director farewell.

Filmmaker Milap Javeri announced that his upcoming film will be dedicated to Gupta. In a social media message, he called Gupta his guru, godfather, father, brother and friend. He recalled that Gupta had taught him at the age of 21 that life has both flowers and thorns, and had helped him build a career in films through Kaante, Musafir, Shootout at Wadala, Plan and Alibaug The Miranda Brothers.

Javeri said they had met ten days before the death, when he told Gupta the title of his next project. The director had responded with delight, saying that his father had made an original film with that same title. Javeri said he could not put into words the happiness and pride he had felt in that moment.

Actress Koena Mitra, who was launched by Gupta in Musafir, described him as a magician behind the camera who lived every moment with childlike joy. She praised his style, perfectionism and passion, and said his death had taken away a mentor and friend.

Anu Malik, who worked with Gupta on several films, said he was stunned by the sudden loss. He described Gupta as a man who lived like a king, thought ahead of his time and was among the kindest people he had known.

Police say Gupta slipped in the bathroom late on Friday night and hit his head. Family members and household staff were present but asleep and were not immediately informed. The family found him the next morning and contacted the police. The Versova police have registered an accidental death report and started an investigation.

Gupta had directed his first film, Aatish: Feel the Fire, in 1994. Among his later films were Kaante, Zinda, Jazbaa, Kaabil and Mumbai Saga. His last directorial release, The Miranda Brothers, came out in 2025.