New Delhi: Filmmaker Milap Zaveri has shared a statement on behalf of Anuradha Lekhi Gupta, the wife of late director Sanjay Gupta, appealing for privacy and understanding for their adolescent children following his tragic passing. In the message, she clarified that the director lost his life after sustaining a fatal head injury from an accidental fall, while expressing deep appreciation for the condolences and backing extended by relatives, acquaintances, supporters, and media personnel during a challenging period.
The public appeal followed the circulation of a video recorded outside the filmmaker's funeral in Mumbai. A social media paparazzi account circulated the footage, alleging it depicted his daughter, Dalai, making an inappropriate gesture toward photographers. Because the individual's face was hidden under a hoodie in the clip, the claim regarding her identity could not be independently authenticated.
Beginning with an expression of profound gratitude, Anuradha noted that a permanent piece of their lives has vanished, leaving an unfillable void. She emphasized the severe emotional impact the sudden loss has had on their children, who have always lived outside the glare of public attention and celebrity culture. She explained that the unexpected intrusion during their deep grief caused immense distress, leading to reactions directed at members of the media, and expressed regret for any offense caused.
She urged the public and media to view the reactions as those of grieving youngsters struggling to process an irreplaceable tragedy. Furthermore, she requested that individuals delete any related content that might inflict lasting emotional distress, asking instead for space, compassion, and privacy to mourn their father.
The original footage emerged after family members, peers, and industry colleagues assembled to pay their final respects. The video showed a young person in a car with a concealed face laughing and gesturing at photographers, prompting mixed reactions and questions from viewers online regarding her identity and behavior.
Numerous prominent figures from the film industry attended the funeral services prior to the final rites at the Versova crematorium, including Abhishek Bachchan, Farah Khan, Rakesh Roshan, Fardeen Khan, Ronit Roy, Rohit Roy, Sudhanshu Pandey, and Ashoke Pandit.
Sanjay Gupta passed away at the age of 57, leaving behind a career spanning more than thirty years. He entered the industry with his 1994 directorial debut Aatish: Feel The Fire and went on to helm notable projects such as Jung, Kaante, Shootout at Wadala, and Kaabil. His 2002 thriller Kaante, featuring an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt, served as a major milestone in his professional journey.