Why Sanjay Gupta's Chhota Rajan Story Is Trending Again

Mumbai, 1 November: Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta's account of a tense encounter with gangster Chhota Rajan has returned to social media after his passing. An old video of Gupta's conversation with writer S. Hussain Zaidi shows him describing a threatening phone call that quickly turned into a serious safety concern.

Gupta said the caller first asked why he had not been picked up, then introduced himself as Nana. When Gupta asked which Nana, the caller said he was Chhota Rajan. Gupta believed a friend was playing a prank and responded with a line that became the centre of the story: “I am Bada Rajan.”

The reply did not end the matter. Instead, the caller began abusing him. Gupta later discovered that Bada Rajan had been Chhota Rajan's guru, and that the gangster's regard for his mentor was so strong that his death had left a lasting mark. Gupta ended the call after the insults continued.

Fearing for his safety, Gupta contacted Sanjay Dutt, who had just come out on bail. He said he had been told that some people in a taxi had reached his home and asked for help getting out immediately.

Dutt arranged for Sunil Dutt's official MP car and a jeep to be sent to Gupta's home. Gupta, who lived on the ground floor, rushed out, sat in the rear seat of the car, and was taken to Dutt's residence.

At Dutt's home, Gupta said, neither man knew how to proceed. Then the phone rang. Aditya Pancholi was on the line and soon arrived at the house. Gupta recalled that Pancholi embraced him and apologised, explaining that he had made remarks about his role in Ram Shastra while drinking with a friend.

Gupta said he asked Pancholi to resolve the situation. A phone call was eventually made, in which Gupta apologised and was told that everything was fine. He was asked to improve Pancholi's role as much as he could, with the assurance that there would be no problems from the other side.

Gupta's death on Saturday brought sorrow across the film industry. He was cremated at the Pawan Hans crematorium. Among those who attended his funeral were Abhishek Bachchan, Rakesh Roshan, Fardeen Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajat Bedi, Ashok Pandit, Milap Javeri, Rohit Roy, Ronit Roy and Gulshan Grover.