Actor Sikandar Kher has paid a heartfelt tribute to late filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, crediting him as the person who launched his career in Bollywood and expressing deep grief at his passing. Gupta, best known for directing 'Kaante', passed away on 30 October at the age of 57, sending shockwaves through the Hindi film industry.

Kher's Tribute to His Mentor

In an emotional note, Kher reflected on the painful weight of speaking about Gupta in the past tense. 'Sanjay Gupta was the person who gave me my break in films. The only sad part about that line is the word 'was'. He was a great producer and such a passionate director. His confidence in me gave me confidence in myself, that was his energy. Not just for me but for his entire crew,' he wrote.

Kher also offered his condolences to Gupta's wife Anu and the rest of his family. 'Thank you for everything. He will be missed dearly. My prayers for Anu and his family. May you rest in peace Sanjay,' he added.

The Film That Started It All

Sikandar Kher made his Bollywood debut with the 2008 thriller 'Woodstock Villa', which was produced by Sanjay Gupta alongside Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, and directed by Hansal Mehta. That debut marked the beginning of a career Kher has credited entirely to Gupta's belief in him.

A Film Industry in Mourning

Gupta's death has prompted an outpouring of grief from across the Hindi film industry. Notable figures including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Kajol, Kangana Ranaut, and Rakesh Roshan have paid their respects to the filmmaker.

Actor Sanjay Dutt, one of Gupta's closest friends and frequent collaborators, made a particularly emotional pledge in his tribute. Vowing to honour Gupta's long-discussed dream project, Dutt wrote: 'Gupts, my brother. I still cannot believe that you are gone. We have shared so much together, so many memories and so many years of friendship. You have always been family to me, and that will never change.'

Kaante 2: A Promise Made in Grief

Dutt revealed that the two had recently been in discussions about 'Kaante 2', a sequel to the cult 2003 heist film, and vowed to see it through as a tribute to his late friend. 'We were just discussing Kante 2 recently, I will make Kaante 2 your dream, in memory of you my brother, I will do everything for this dream of yours to come true, love you forever and always. Life will not be the same without you, brother,' he said.

With Gupta's passing, Indian cinema loses one of its more distinctive directorial voices — a filmmaker whose high-octane style left a lasting imprint on the genre. Whether 'Kaante 2' moves forward now becomes one of the more closely watched questions in Bollywood's immediate future.