Veteran actor Anupam Kher paid an emotional tribute to late filmmaker Sanjay Gupta on Saturday, 1 November, recalling their last meeting and the director's recurring promise — 'Kher saab, we must work together!' Gupta, best known for directing Kaante and the Shootout franchise, passed away on 30 October at his Mumbai home at the age of 59, reportedly after slipping in the bathroom during the night and sustaining a head injury.

A Filmmaker Remembered for His Encyclopaedic Love of Cinema

Kher described Gupta as 'a filmmaker with a distinctive style and an enormous love for cinema,' adding that he was 'an encyclopaedia of films.' According to Kher, a conversation with Gupta was a reminder of how deeply he belonged to the world of movies — a passion that also came through in his social media presence in recent times. 'You could ask him practically anything about movies,' Kher wrote on his official handle.

The Unfinished Conversation

Reflecting on his last meeting with Gupta — approximately a year ago — Kher shared the bittersweet memory of a greeting that now carries a different weight. 'Kher saab, we must work together!' was, he recalled, 'almost always his opening line whenever we met.' Kher wrote, 'We always think there will be time. Another meeting. Another conversation. Another film. It hurts to know that this one will remain unfinished.'

A Shared History on Screen

Kher and Gupta had collaborated on Kaante (2002) and Shootout at Wadala (2013). Kher also noted that Gupta was the first director of his son, actor Sikandar Kher, underlining the personal depth of their bond. Alongside professional memories, Kher recalled 'warmth, affection, and a lovely Holi party' at Gupta's home a few years ago — moments that, he wrote, 'come back today, along with the sadness.'

Industry Mourns, Family in Grief

Gupta's passing at 59 has drawn widespread mourning from the Hindi film industry. Kher concluded his tribute by saying Gupta's films — particularly Kaante and the Shootout films — would keep his distinctive voice alive. 'My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and everyone who loved him and his cinema. I will miss you, Sanjay. And I will miss hearing, "Kher saab, we must work together!"' he wrote.

The exact circumstances of Gupta's death are, according to reports, under confirmation, though the head injury sustained in the bathroom fall has been cited as the cause. He is survived by family, colleagues, and a filmography that defined a particular brand of stylised Hindi action cinema.