Actor Sanjay Dutt has paid an emotional tribute to filmmaker Sanjay Gupta after his sudden death, recalling their decades-long friendship and promising to fulfil his late friend’s dream of making Kaante 2. In a heartfelt post on social media, Dutt described Gupta as family and remembered the memories, conversations and years they had shared. The actor also revealed that they had a recent conversation on the sequel to their 2002 cult crime thriller Kaante. Dutt said life would never be the same without his “brother” and signed off with a moving farewell, saying Gupta’s memory would be carried forward.
Sanjay Gupta is family, remembered Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt took to social media to express his grief over the passing of filmmaker , with whom he shared a long-standing personal and professional relationship. The actor spoke of Gupta as his brother and of their friendship, the memories they made together and the conversations that were a constant in their lives.
“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,” Dutt wrote. “I will miss you, our conversations and all the times we spent together,” the actor added. Dutt’s tribute was a reminder of the bond they shared beyond their work in Hindi cinema, with Dutt remembering Gupta as someone who had become an integral part of his life.
Sanjay Dutt posted a slew of photos with Sanjay Gupta
Sanjay Dutt promises to make Kaante 2 in memory of Gupta
The most touching part of Dutt’s tribute was his promise to make Kaante 2, a project that the two reportedly had talked about shortly before Gupta’s death. “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,” wrote the actor.
Dutt ended his message with an emotional ‘farewell’: “Life will not be the same without you, brother. May God bless your soule.”
Sanjay Dutt’s tribute and Kaante 2 promise to Sanjay Gupta
What was planned for Kaante 2?
Earlier in 2026, Gupta had talked about the sequel, stating that he and Dutt had worked out a rough story and that he planned to start writing the script. The filmmaker had also talked about the creative possibilities for the project, which was expected to revisit the world of the original crime thriller.
Dutt’s tribute now adds a deeply personal angle to the sequel that was proposed. His promise indicates his determination to pursue the project, but details on its development, script and production schedule have yet to be announced.
Kaante cast with Sanay Gupta on the films 20th anniversary
Sanjay Dutt-Sanjay Gupta’s long association
Dutt and have worked together in many films such as Aatish: Feel the Fire (1994), Kaante (2002), Musafir (2004) and Zinda (2006). Together, they also did Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), which Gupta produced and co-wrote.
They are best known for their collaboration in Kaante that had an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Suniel Shetty, Mahesh Manjrekar, Lucky Ali and Kumar Gaurav along with Dutt. The 2002 crime thriller went on to gain cult status, making a sequel a long-running topic of discussion among its fans.
The actor and filmmaker reportedly had a falling out over money in 2007 but patched things up several years later. The friendship was rekindled, and they began talking about working together again, including the possibility of remaking Kaante.