A prayer service honoring filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, who succumbed unexpectedly on October 31, convened in Mumbai on November 3.Numerous colleagues from the cinematic community assembled to offer their final condolences and commemorate a life that had resonated deeply with countless individuals.His spouse, Anu, his son Shivaansh, and his daughter Dalai, accompanied by a host of extended family and intimate friends, were among those in attendance at this poignant tribute.
Within the sacred gathering convened by Dr.
Sanjay Gupta lies a poignant, jubilant, and melodically rich tribute honoring a man whose compassion knew no bounds.
An unmistakable undercurrent of sorrow permeated the gathering, as numerous attendees remained grappling with the harrowing reality that Sanjay Gupta was no longer present.
Nevertheless, beneath the weight of grief, a profound sense of warmth, nostalgia, and even mirth emerged, fueled by recollections from those intimately acquainted with him of his contagious vigor, boundless generosity, and larger-than-life persona.Upon the guests' arrival, a singer accompanied by his ensemble rendered devotional hymns, providing a sonic backdrop as mourners extended their condolences to the bereaved family.
The gathering included a distinguished roster of industry figures: Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, alongside Isha Koppikar, Manoj Bajpayee, Jackie Shroff, Tabu, and Shabana Azmi; directors and screenwriters Javed Akhtar, Sujoy Ghosh, Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Sooraj Pancholi, Aditya Pancholi, Salim Merchant, Anees Bazmee, and Bikram Saluja; composers and music producers Anu Malik and Anand Raj Anand; and actors such as Vivek Oberoi, Sikandar Kher, Dino Morea, Tusshar Kapoor, Sanjay Suri, Sophie Choudry, Vivaan Shah, Zayed Khan, Sharman Joshi, Sudhanshu Pandey, Aman Gill, Ashoke Pandit, Samir Soni, Neelam Kothari, Mahesh Manjrekar, Namashi Chakraborty, Viveck Vaswani, Varun Sharma, and Rohit Roy, along with producers Bhushan Kumar and Shaad Randhawa, and several other notable personalities.
Thirty years ago, Rohit Roy first held the microphone for a press conference featuring Gupta; an hour later, he stood before the same audience, his voice faltering as he announced that he was now presiding over Gupta's prayer service, observing with poignancy how the arc of life has brought him from one role to another.
Roy further remarked that the gathering was not merely an obligation to pay respects, but rather a testament to the profound impact Gupta had left on each individual, noting that everyone present was drawn there because their lives had been irrevocably touched by him in one way or another.
He transferred the microphone to vocalist Vipin Aneja, who performed the track "Jaane Tere Shehar," a number from Sanjay Gupta's 2015 motion picture Jazbaa.
Addressing the gathering next was Ritu, a confidante who had known him since his adolescence.
She observed, "There exists an profound sense of ease in the company of those with whom one matures; Gupta and I shared this bond.I first encountered him at sixteen, myself then nineteen, both of us notably slender at the time.Our academic paths intersected at Sydenham College, where his compact eight-by-ten room served as a gathering hub for numerous friends.While his residence during those years was admittedly diminutive, his spirit remained boundless."
Ritu further remarked that her conversations with Gupta often extended for hours, during which he accounted for ninety percent of the dialogue.
Of this ninety percent, a substantial fifty percent invariably revolved around cinematic narratives, compelling scripts, emerging projects, or business ventures, reflecting his profound passion for the film industry; indeed, his affection extended even more deeply toward Anu, Shivansh, and Dalai.
Overcome with emotion, Ritu disclosed that she had managed his financial affairs for numerous years, recognizing his singular objective: to ensure their security in the event of his own demise.
Yet, she had never anticipated such a tragedy befalling him, for he was, after all, the formidable Gupta; a man who had weathered countless adversities without faltering.Raised by a solitary mother from the most modest of origins, he had ascended to construct this vast empire.Although many had exploited him, such betrayals never managed to diminish his spirit.He offered a smile, succinctly remarked, "It is an inherent aspect of existence," and proceeded.
She added, “He was the life of every party; everybody would agree to it.
He was the best host, and he launched so many people.He was the personification of life, and that is why I never thought that there would ever be a time when he wouldn’t be a part of my life.â€
Anand Raj Anand performed the tracks "Dil Kya Kare" and "Yaar Mangiyasi" for Kaante (2002), with the latter ultimately excluded from the film's final release; Anand noted that the omitted song had been a particular favorite of Sanjay Gupta.
Milap Zaveri gave a wonderful, filmi tribute in his style, “He was always Guru ji for me.
At the tender age of twenty-one, he gifted me the film *Kaante*.
For a quarter-century, Anu has persistently remarked, "You consistently pen the most banal and overly sentimental lines for my husband!" He then dramatically enunciated one such line: "He who never bowed before another, he who never ceased from giving love, was Sanjay Gupta!"
Glancing at his children, Milap remarked, "Apologies, Shivaansh and Dalai; yet he was also my father.
He was my godfather, and I cherished him dearly." He subsequently directed attention toward the photograph of Sanjay Gupta, noting, "That was the emperor!He remains present.He has departed nowhere.He lives on, alive within the hearts of us all." The final declaration resonated profoundly, given that Sanjay Gupta had previously crafted a film titled *Zinda* (2006).
Ascending to the stage, Shivaansh Gupta, the son of Sanjay, was tenderly embraced by Anu before addressing the audience.
He began by asserting that his father possessed not a single detrimental element within his constitution; indeed, he was the most humorous and the most exemplary father Shivaansh could ever recall.His father approached each day with unwavering perseverance, profound love, and deep-seated faith, invariably engaging with what he termed "my shifting obsessions," be they Lego, football, fragrances, video games, or cinema.Moreover, he offered his wholehearted support for every endeavor Shivaansh aspired to undertake.
He proceeded to recount, "He would lend his undivided attention to my ceaseless tales, for he was my dearest confidant.
He invariably assured me that he would never patronize me as a child, given that he regarded me as his equal and closest ally.Virtually each morning, we engaged in spirited debate regarding the supremacy of Batman versus Spider-Man.Every evening, our dinner table was accompanied by culinary critiques and an extensive viewing of hundreds of videos dedicated to motorcycles.I lament the absence of his companionship during my formative years."
Subsequently, Shivaansh recounted, "I would frequently inquire of my father, 'We reside in a vast mansion overlooking the ocean; I enjoy unlimited access to any desire at a moment's notice, a privilege made possible solely by your arduous labor.How can I possibly surpass this standard?What manner of legacy can I offer my progeny?This represents the pinnacle of existence.' His response was unequivocal: 'I commenced my journey from nothingness.I attended school within a structure under construction, received new attire only once annually on Dussehra, and indulged in Chinese cuisine merely once per year during Diwali.I ascended from zero to a thousand; now, it falls upon you to elevate that figure to a million!'"
Dalai came on stage but was too emotional to speak.
Hence, Anu decided to read her message on her behalf.Some of the excerpts from Dalai’s tribute: “I would forever love you for your smile, humour and your laughter.You always believed in me; you were my hope and my passion.The love that you showed to the world was only a fraction.It didn’t matter whether I was smiling, crying or simply confused.You were always there…Soon, I’ll open the restaurant you always wanted to open.You called it Café Dalai.I have pledged to exert my utmost effort to realize your aspirations, fueled entirely by my affection.He frequently engaged me in elaborate, albeit fabricated, scenarios, often insisting that upon his passing, I must possess the fortitude to endure.I would invariably hasten to conclude these discussions, firmly declaring, "No.Cease this discourse.I am unwilling to entertain such thoughts; you are not on the verge of death." Nevertheless, he consistently immersed himself in my passions, be they culinary arts, painting, or musical performance.Our shared cinematic experiences were defined by transforming every clichéd dialogue into a private jest and finding amusement in the formulaic narrative arcs of their predictable twists.On those late-night excursions, we would summon pizza to serve as a backdrop for crafting horror short films, during which he would impart his expertise on directing and cinematography, insisting that the interplay of lighting, camera positioning, and precise timing was paramount to success.I am certain that were he present today, he would find the listening of bhajans somewhat tedious.His culinary adventures on the journey home were equally spirited; upon discovering an exceptional new establishment, he would enthusiastically rally all his acquaintances to visit.
As the prayer gathering drew to a close, attendees lined up to convey their condolences to Anu, Shivaansh, Dalai, and the bereaved family.
It was at this poignant juncture that Shah Rukh Khan made his arrival at the venue.Just as this writer was preparing to approach Anu to express sympathy, the superstar intercepted him, requesting with exceptional grace and courtesy the privilege of addressing her first.Naturally, the writer acquiesced.Shah Rukh then embraced Anu, Shivaansh, and Dalai with palpable warmth, offering solace to the grieving family.This subdued yet profoundly moving encounter served as a fitting, emotional conclusion to the evening.
In the end, the prayer gathering convened by Sanjay Gupta transcended the somber purpose of mourning his departure; it evolved into a vibrant tribute to a life defined by profound passion, enduring humor, remarkable resilience, and boundless generosity.
While tears undoubtedly flowed, the atmosphere was equally illuminated by smiles, mirth, musical expressions, cherished anecdotes, and sincere, emotional proclamations of love.
Amidst the evening's prevailing sentiment, a singular truth resonated: although Sanjay Gupta may no longer be physically present, the profound memories he forged and the lives he transformed will ensure he remains eternally *zinda* within the hearts of those who cherished and knew him.
