Hindi film director Sanjay Gupta, whose crime dramas gave Bollywood some of its most recognisable ensemble moments, died on Saturday at 59. His wife Anuradha Lekhi Gupta issued a statement on Monday confirming that he suffered a fatal head injury in an accidental fall at the family’s Versova home, and asking for privacy for their two adolescent children.
The request came after a difficult weekend. Gupta’s last rites were held in Mumbai on Saturday, and clips of his 13-year-old daughter Dalai gesturing at cameras during the cremation began trending on social media on Sunday. Anuradha did not ignore the incident. She said the children had grown up away from the limelight, were “deeply distressed by the sudden intrusion into their privacy”, and asked that the clips be deleted.
“A part of our lives has been lost forever, and nothing can ever fill the void or make up for this loss.”
She also described the reaction as the expression of grieving adolescents “struggling to come to terms with an irreparable loss” and requested “privacy, compassion and space” for the family.
A career of crime, stars and style
Gupta made his directorial debut in 1994 with Aatish: Feel the Fire. Through the 2000s and 2010s, he became known for films that put large ensembles and gritty Mumbai stories at the centre. His best-known titles include:
- Kaante
- Musafir
- Shootout at Lokhandwala
- Shootout at Wadala
He frequently collaborated with Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham, and those films remain reference points for fans of Hindi crime cinema. Kaante, in particular, gave the industry a much-talked-about multi-star cast in a heist setup, while the Shootout films turned real police encounters into large-format action.
What the family is asking now
The family’s statement matters because it shifts attention from a viral clip to a basic request: delete content that could leave emotional scars on children, and let them grieve privately. For fans, the practical response is simple: share the official statement rather than the paparazzi videos, and let the family’s request stand.
Gupta is survived by his wife Anuradha, son Shivansh and daughter Dalai. His passing closes a three-decade directorial run that spanned the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and leaves behind a filmography still watched by Hindi cinema fans.
Source: Hindustan Times