‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’ director Sanjay Gupta passes away

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for directing ‘Kaante’, ‘Kaabil’ and ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, died on October 30 at 59 after reportedly sustaining a head injury in a bathroom fall. Ashoke Pandit confirmed his death in an Instagram post.

Mumbai: Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, best known for directing films such as ‘Kaante’, ‘Kaabil’ and ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, has passed away at the age of 59.

According to sources close to IANS, the filmmaker died on October 30 after slipping in the bathroom at night and sustaining a head injury.

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Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit confirmed Sanjay Gupta’s death and wrote on Instagram: “It’s really shocking and sad. Just got the news that our dear friend, an ace director @_sanjaygupta, is no more. He passed due to a head injury at home.”

“Another talent gone too soon. He was a wonderful narrator, full of life persona and a passionate filmmaker. A great loss to our industry. Will miss you my friend. Condolences to his family and dear ones. Om Shaanti. Details of his last rites will be shared soon.”

Sanjay Gupta stepped into the world of cinema in 1994 with ‘Aatish: Feel the Fire’, starring Aditya Pancholi and Sanjay Dutt.

He then went on to direct and write movies such as ‘Ram Shastra’, ‘Khauff’ and ‘Jung’. While filming ‘Kaante’ in Los Angeles in 2001, the events of the September 11 attacks forced the team to relocate planned scenes from several areas that were then considered sensitive.

Over a career spanning decades, Gupta collaborated with actor Sanjay Dutt in numerous films such as ‘Kaante’, ‘Musafir’, ‘Zinda’ and ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, among others. ‘Zinda’ was an unofficial remake of the South Korean film ‘Oldboy’.

He also produced the films ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’ and ‘Dus Kahaniyaan’, and directed and co-produced ‘Shootout at Wadala’, the prequel to ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’.

His last work was ‘The Miranda Brothers’, which was released in 2025. Sanjay Gupta directed and produced the film, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Meezaan Jafri.

The film followed an orphan rescued from trash who becomes devoted to his elder brother. Both grow up to become star footballers, until the suspicious death of their mother threatens to tear them apart.

He is survived by his wife, Anu Lekhi.