Sanjay Gupta, Bollywood’s master of stylish action

Mumbai: Energetic, enthusiastic and always raring to go that was Sanjay Gupta, the filmmaker who gave Bollywood stylish action thrillers like Kaante, Musafir, Zinda and Kaabil. Known for his slick storytelling, high-octane action and distinctive visual style, Gupta carved a niche for himself in Hindi cinema with films that were heavily influenced by American and Korean thrillers.

One of the most enduring associations of Gupta’s career was with actor Sanjay Dutt. Their friendship and professional relationship began with Gupta’s directorial debut, Aatish, and continued through several films, including Kaante, Musafir and Zinda. Dutt was particularly comfortable working with Gupta, and their collaboration resulted in some memorable action entertainers.

Hallmark of Films
Music was another hallmark of Gupta’s films. Songs like Ishq Samundar from Kaante and Saaki Saaki from Musafir became hugely popular and remain favourite dance tracks even today. His ability to blend action, suspense and chart-topping music gave his films a distinct identity.

Among his biggest commercial successes was Kaabil, starring Hrithik Roshan as a visually impaired man seeking revenge for the tragedy that befalls his wife. The film demonstrated Gupta’s flair for combining emotion with suspense and action, making it one of the most successful films of his career.

Few people know that Gupta had also ventured into music videos. In 1994, he directed a music video featuring Karisma Kapoor for Michael Jackson Fashions, showcasing his interest in stylish visual presentation beyond mainstream cinema.

Filmmaking Journey 
Controversies, however, were never far from his filmmaking journey. His debut film Aatish ran into trouble when the song Ya Mustafa faced objections from Muslim groups over its lyrics. The words were subsequently changed to pacify the protesters. The film also became embroiled in uncertainty when Sanjay Dutt, who was shooting in Mauritius, was linked to the Mumbai serial blasts case. The actor was arrested at the airport upon his return from the shoot.

But Gupta’s friendship with Dutt went beyond professional collaborations. Through good times and bad, the two stood by each other. Even during Dutt’s incarceration, Gupta was seen visiting Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai to meet his actor friend. Their bond survived the many ups and downs of their respective careers.