"Please Allow Them Privacy": Sanjay Gupta's Wife Reacts to Daughter's Viral Video
Anuradha Gupta appeals for privacy after a video of their daughter reacting to paparazzi at filmmaker Sanjay Gupta's funeral went viral.
Following the sudden and tragic passing of filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, his wife, Anuradha Lekhi Gupta, has issued an emotional appeal to the media and the public. The statement comes after a Sanjay Gupta daughter viral video began circulating online, showing the filmmaker's daughter allegedly making inappropriate gestures toward paparazzi during her father's funeral rites.
A Heartbreaking Loss
Anuradha Gupta confirmed that the director of 'Kaante' passed away on October 30 after suffering a fatal head injury resulting from an accidental fall at his residence in Mumbai. Expressing the depth of their sorrow, she stated that a part of their lives has been lost forever and that nothing can fill the void left by his untimely demise.
The statement, which was shared on Instagram by the filmmaker's close friend and director Milap Zaveri, expressed gratitude to fans, friends, and the media for the condolences and strength provided during this harrowing period.
Defending Grieving Children
Addressing the controversy surrounding the viral footage, Anuradha highlighted the immense pressure her adolescent children are facing. She explained that her children, who grew up away from the intrusive nature of paparazzi culture and the glare of the limelight, were deeply distressed by the sudden media intrusion during their moment of grief.
"In their grief and anguish, some of their reactions may have been directed towards certain members of the media. I sincerely regret any hurt this may have caused," the statement read.
She urged the public to view these reactions not as misconduct, but as the expressions of children struggling to cope with an irreparable loss. Anuradha specifically appealed to everyone to delete any content that could leave lasting emotional scars on the young minds of her children, requesting compassion and space for them to grieve in private.
Industry Mourns a Visionary
Sanjay Gupta was a powerhouse in the action and crime thriller genre, leaving behind a legacy of hard-hitting cinema. His notable works include Aatish, Kaante, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Shootout At Wadala, Kaabil, and Mumbai Saga. His most recent directorial effort was The Miranda Brothers (2024), starring Meezaan Jafri and Harshvardhan Rane, and he also served as a producer for the film Visfot.
The filmmaker's last rites were performed on Saturday evening at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai. The event saw a massive gathering of the film fraternity, including:
- Sanjay Dutt, who shared a long and close association with Gupta
- Abhishek Bachchan and Rakesh Roshan
- Manoj Bajpayee and Rajpal Yadav
- Fardeen Khan, Rahul Dev, and Naved Jaffrey
- Harshvardhan Rane, Meezaan Jafri, and Rajat Bedi