2 November 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The Hindi film industry is mourning the sudden demise of filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for directing films such as Kaante, Musafir, Shootout at Wadala and Kaabil. Several Bollywood personalities, including Abhishek Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, attended his last rites in Mumbai on Saturday evening, October 31, to pay their final respects.
Gupta was cremated at the Versova crematorium in Mumbai in the presence of family members, friends and colleagues from the film industry. His unexpected death has left several actors, directors and producers remembering their association with the filmmaker and his contribution to Indian cinema.
Abhishek Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee and other celebrities attend funeral
Several prominent members of the film fraternity gathered at the crematorium to bid farewell to Sanjay Gupta. Abhishek Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee, Rakesh Roshan, Rajpal Yadav, Rajat Bedi, Mukesh Chhabra, Bhushan Kumar, Ratan Jain and Vivek Agnihotri were among those who attended the last rites.
Other celebrities, including Fardeen Khan, Rohit Roy, Ronit Roy, Gulshan Grover, Farah Khan, Harshvardhan Rane and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, also visited Gupta’s residence to pay their respects.
The atmosphere was emotional as friends and colleagues remembered the filmmaker. Several people from the industry expressed shock over his sudden passing and recalled the personal and professional relationships they had shared with him.
Hrithik Roshan shares emotional tribute
Actor Hrithik Roshan, who worked with Sanjay Gupta in the 2017 film Kaabil, expressed deep grief over his death through an emotional Instagram post.
Remembering their collaboration, Hrithik wrote that working on just one film together was not enough and that he had hoped to work with Gupta again. He recalled the filmmaker’s laughter, passion and enthusiasm for cinema.
In his tribute, Hrithik said he would always remember their time together with love and gratitude. He also thanked Gupta for giving him one of the best experiences of his career through Kaabil.
The actor added that he wished he had hugged the filmmaker more tightly and thanked him for his contribution to the film. Describing himself as heartbroken, Hrithik said the loss had come far too soon.
Milap Zaveri dedicates his next film to the filmmaker
Filmmaker Milap Zaveri also shared an emotional tribute, remembering Gupta as his mentor, godfather, brother and friend.
Zaveri recalled how Gupta supported him during difficult phases of his career and offered him opportunities when he faced professional setbacks. He also remembered their recent meeting, which took place around 10 days before the filmmaker’s death.
According to Zaveri, he had discussed the title of his upcoming film with Gupta during that meeting. The filmmaker was reportedly excited after learning about the title, which had a connection with a film produced by Gupta’s father.
Zaveri announced that he would dedicate his next film to Gupta as a tribute to their relationship and the support he had received throughout his career.
Sanjay Dutt remembers his longtime friend
Actor Sanjay Dutt, who collaborated with Gupta on several films, also expressed his grief over the loss.
Remembering their friendship, Dutt said he could not believe that his close friend was gone. He recalled the years they had spent together and the many memories they had created.
Dutt also revealed that they had recently discussed the possibility of Kaante 2. He promised to fulfil Gupta’s dream of bringing the project to life in his memory.
Their professional association included films such as Kaante, Musafir, Zinda and Shootout at Wadala. Gupta and Dutt became closely associated with the gangster-drama genre through their collaborations.
What happened to Sanjay Gupta?
According to Mumbai Police, Sanjay Gupta suffered a head injury after an accidental fall at his Versova residence. The incident reportedly took place during the night, and his family discovered him the following morning.
Police said his wife, two children and a domestic helper were present in the house but were asleep when the incident occurred. He was subsequently taken for medical attention, but he could not be saved.
The Versova Police registered an Accidental Death Report and initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials said the family had not raised any suspicion of foul play.
A career marked by crime dramas and stylish filmmaking
Sanjay Gupta made his directorial debut with Aatish: Feel the Fire in 1994. Over the years, he developed a distinctive filmmaking style, particularly through crime dramas, gangster stories and action thrillers.
His notable directorial projects included Kaante, Musafir, Zinda, Shootout at Wadala, Jazbaa, Kaabil and Mumbai Saga. He also produced Shootout at Lokhandwala, directed by Apoorva Lakhia.
Through his production company, White Feather Films, Gupta supported several projects and worked with actors and filmmakers across the industry.
His sudden demise has prompted an outpouring of tributes from people who worked with him. As colleagues remember his passion for cinema and the opportunities he created for others, his films and professional legacy remain part of the industry’s memories.