Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, whose filmography includes the multi-starrer crime drama Kaante, the thriller Zinda and the gangster saga Shootout at Wadala, died on Friday, October 30, 2026. Tributes from collaborators and friends followed quickly, led by Sanjay Dutt, who worked with Gupta on Kaante and Zinda.
Dutt shared photographs of the two together and described Gupta as family. He wrote that they had recently been discussing a sequel to Kaante, and promised to make the film in his friend’s memory. “Life will not be the same without you, brother,” Dutt wrote.
Hansal Mehta remembered Gupta as his “only boss in the film industry” and a dear friend. In a long note, Mehta wrote that the two had shared many lows and highs, and that his first Rolex came from Gupta. He recalled watching films in Gupta’s theatre and borrowing books from his shelves. “He held my hand when I was at my lowest,” Mehta wrote, adding that he still wears the Rolex and does not think he will ever take it off.
Kajol called the news heartbreaking and sent strength to Gupta’s family. Tusshar Kapoor remembered his “beloved director” and said Gupta was a lesson in living life to the fullest. Anupam Kher, writing from Stockholm, described a filmmaker with “a distinctive style and an enormous love for cinema” who could answer almost any question about movies and had, in recent social media posts, been expressing that passion openly.
Why Gupta’s films mattered
What comes through in the tributes is a filmmaker who was remembered as much for his friendships as for his filmography. The mix of crime, style and ensemble casting in his work gave Hindi cinema fans some of the most talked-about gangster dramas of their era.
Who said what
- Sanjay Dutt called Gupta family and pledged to make Kaante 2 in his memory.
- Hansal Mehta said Gupta was his only boss in the film industry and remembered a Rolex he still wears.
- Kajol called the news heartbreaking and sent strength to the family.
- Tusshar Kapoor remembered a beloved director and a lesson in living fully.
- Anupam Kher called Gupta an encyclopaedia of films.
What happens next
Dutt’s public promise has put Kaante 2 back into the conversation. No formal sequel announcement has been made in the immediate tributes, but fans will now watch for any movement on the project.
Source: The Hindu