Mumbai: Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for redefining Bollywood’s gangster genre with cult classics like Kaante, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Shootout at Wadala, Kaabil and Aatish, is once again making headlines for his brutally honest opinions. Appearing on the podcast Incontroversial by Pooja Chaudhri, Gupta spoke openly about Bollywood, the underworld, the fading star system, and the changing face of Hindi cinema. His candid revelations offered a rare glimpse behind the glamour of the film industry.
Gupta revealed that after the release of Shootout at Wadala, the real underworld was furious with him for portraying gangster Manya Surve as a “hero” on screen.
According to him, gangsters questioned why Surve had been glorified in the film. Gupta defended his storytelling by saying that no matter how heroic criminals may appear in his films, they ultimately meet a tragic end. He also shared that the idea for Shootout at Lokhandwala came from a photograph he saw in an in-flight magazine, which instantly sparked the world and tension that later shaped the film.
Talking about modern Bollywood, Gupta criticized filmmakers for trying too hard to impress critics instead of audiences. He said stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt once defined true larger-than-life heroism simply through their screen presence. He added that South Indian cinema successfully preserved that mass-hero culture, while Bollywood gradually moved away from it.
Recalling his experience of making Kaabil with Hrithik Roshan, Gupta admitted that the film went completely against industry expectations. Speaking emotionally about Sanjay Dutt, he said Bollywood failed to utilize the superstar’s true potential for many years. Gupta also hinted at early plans for Kaante 2, with names like Abhishek Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vijay Varma and Ali Fazal reportedly being discussed.
True to his personality, Gupta remained unapologetically outspoken throughout the conversation. He stated that he openly praises what he genuinely loves and prefers silence over fake appreciation. That fearless honesty continues to make him one of Bollywood’s most controversial yet fascinating filmmakers
