New Delhi: Anuradha Lekhi Gupta, the wife of late filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, has issued a public appeal requesting privacy for their children following the circulation of a viral video from the director's funeral. Filmmaker Milap Zaveri shared the statement on Instagram on behalf of the family.
In the statement, Anuradha explained that her husband passed away after suffering a fatal head injury from an accidental fall. She expressed deep appreciation for the outpouring of love, condolences, and support from relatives, friends, fans, and media members during this challenging period.
The appeal followed a video from outside the funeral in Mumbai that circulated widely on social media. A paparazzi account alleged that the footage featured the couple's daughter, Dalai, making an obscene gesture toward photographers. However, because the girl's face was hidden under a hoodie, her identity could not be independently verified.
Anuradha highlighted the profound impact of the sudden loss on their children, noting that they are teenagers who have grown up away from public scrutiny and the pressures of paparazzi culture. She explained that the unexpected intrusion caused deep distress during their mourning, leading to reactions directed at members of the media, and expressed regret for any hurt caused.
She urged the public and media to view these actions as the natural responses of grieving children dealing with an immense loss. Furthermore, she requested that individuals delete any related content that could cause emotional distress to the youngsters and asked for the necessary space, compassion, and privacy to mourn their father.
The funeral brought together numerous film industry figures, including Abhishek Bachchan, Farah Khan, Rakesh Roshan, Fardeen Khan, Ronit Roy, Rohit Roy, Sudhanshu Pandey, and Ashoke Pandit, who gathered to pay their final respects before Gupta was taken to the Versova crematorium.
Sanjay Gupta passed away at the age of 57, leaving behind a career in cinema that spanned over three decades. Making his directorial debut with Aatish: Feel The Fire in 1994, he went on to helm notable films such as Jung, Kaante, Shootout at Wadala, and Kaabil.