Indian Director Sanjay Gupta, Known for Crime Dramas, Dies at 57 Indian filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for crime dramas such as Kaante, has died at 57 after a fall at home. Police treated the death as accidental, with no foul play suspected. Indian filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, best known for his crime dramas, has died at the age of 57 after a fall at his home, his friend and fellow director Milap Zaveri confirmed. Reports said he sustained a serious head injury in the fall in his kitchen and died on Friday, October 30. Police treated the death as accidental and said no foul play was suspected. Sanjay Gupta built a crime drama careerGupta was a prolific Indian director with 17 directing credits and 16 writing credits to his name. His work was marked by a distinctive visual style, often using a gray-green palette and kinetic, violent imagery. He was born in Mumbai, India, with sources giving his birth year as either 1967 or 1969.He freely acknowledged taking inspiration from many sources, saying he would beg, borrow and steal from any medium when making his movies. That approach drew criticism from some, but it also produced films with a style that supporters described as uniquely his own.His 2002 film Kaante drew accusations of plagiarism for its story and style, which critics linked to the work of Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino dismissed the accusations and praised Gupta as a filmmaker, saying he loved what he saw. Tarantino noted that the film featured Indian characters robbing a US bank and said he was honored, adding that the roles were played by legends of Bollywood.Tarantino praised Kaante despite plagiarism claimsTarantino has himself acknowledged borrowing from Westerns, gangster films, 1970s blaxploitation movies and kung fu movies, and his film Reservoir Dogs was noted for its similarities to another film. Gupta was no different, and his movies carried a unique style despite clear influences.Beyond Kaante, the film most often connected to Tarantino, Gupta was known for several other movies inspired by other works. His last movie is among the titles that drew accusations of plagiarism, but viewers also praised its quality.The news of his death prompted tributes from colleagues in the Indian film industry, where he was remembered for a long career in crime dramas. His friend Milap Zaveri confirmed the death. The police account indicated the fall happened in his kitchen, and the case was treated as an accidental death.Final work and lasting influenceGupta's career spanned years of writing and directing, and his films remained associated with a stylized, shocking approach to violence that drew comparisons to Tarantino's work. Supporters said his visual signature and kinetic style set his movies apart even when their stories echoed other films.His birth details vary by source, but he was born in Mumbai, the center of India's film industry. The confirmation of his death at 57 came from a fellow director, and reports described the fall and head injury as the cause. Police said they did not suspect foul play.