Even as state government allows shoots, Mumbai Saga director charts out a plan to film the last leg of John Abraham-Emraan Hashmi starrer in Ramoji Film City
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 18, 2020)

Nestled in his Khandala home, director Sanjay Gupta is charting out the final schedule of Mumbai Saga that will kick off in Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, next month.

With filmmakers gradually planning to resume shoots in Mumbai, the director had initially considered giving finishing touches to the John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi-fronted crime thriller in the city. "But shooting here is way too risky. Public transport hasn't opened up completely yet, so it's impossible to bring the crew to the set daily. This is why T-Series [producer] and I have zeroed in on Ramoji Film City, which is a self-sufficient studio with lodging facilities. We will have our unit tested before flying down," explains Gupta.

The filmmaker, who plans to charter a plane to Hyderabad, has zeroed in on the 30-member crew, including leading men Abraham and Hashmi. "We have 10 to 12 days' work left on the film, including shooting two songs and a portion of the climax."

Gupta agrees that the songs as well as action scenes will have to be reimagined, given the restrictions on the use of background artistes. "Minimising is the way forward on the songs. Rajeev Surti [choreographer] and I are reducing the number of people we can have in the frame and reworking the dance sequences. One of the songs is similar to Ganpat [Shootout At Lokhandwala, 2007]. We have a patchwork shoot with John, Prateik Babbar and Gulshan Grover. Here too, we will eliminate the [background] fighters and keep it focussed on the actors."

Ask him if the actors are comfortable going back to shoot, and Gupta states, "Actors need to have faith in the director and the producer. We have assured them that we will look after them and take precautions. John and Emraan are looking forward to the shoot. We hope to start working on July 15."

Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 19, 2020)

The Coronavirus lockdown has put work life in pause mode for most of us. But Sanjay Gupta refuses to let it impede his “working spirit”. The filmmaker has continued the post-production work on Mumbai Saga, even while he is at his Khandala home with his wife, kids, and a few relatives.

“I’ve managed to finish work on a few things which would have been difficult to find time for before the lockdown. All that when there are six kids running around the house (laughs),” he says. Working on the film from home, Gupta “supervises editing, colour correction and even music with the help of technology”. “My editor, Bunty Nagi has been working with me since Kaante (2002). He knows the way I shoot scenes and how I want them to be edited,” he explains.

The director shares that he tells Nagi “what, and at what point exactly, I want something incorporated or removed” after going through the edited content that Nagi mails to him. He’s also in touch with his background composer in Finland via mails/messages. “These are time-consuming processes but what do you do?” he says, adding that three days’ shoot and two songs are yet to be wrapped up.

Gupta, 53, shot for the John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi-starrer till March 15.

Besides, the filmmaker is also utilising the lockdown period to finish the first draft of his next film (Shootout 3). “Plus, I’ve finished work on the final draft of [the script of] my assistant director’s debut film. I’m also enjoying some family time,” Gupta adds.

Sanjay Gupta, whose plate is full with a gangster flick, a superhero vigilante series and a heist thriller post his under-production city saga
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 13, 2020)

Sanjay Gupta has an unscheduled break in the shoot of his next, the John Abraham-Emraan Hashmi fronted period gangster flick Mumbai Saga, which he is also producing with Bhushan Kumar. John tore an arm ligament and has been advised eight weeks rest. “He didn’t tell us about the injury and dived into an action sequence, in the process, aggravating it. The last two-week shoot has a lot of stunts so, we will resume after he’s completely recovered, sometime next month,” informs the director.

Quiz him on the relevance of the subject of his upcoming June outing and Sanjay points out that not many know what made Mumbai the city it is today. And that makes for a compelling story, based on true events, which he promises will makes you go, ‘Oh my God!’ The film is set in the 1980s and he admits filming in real locations, with all the heat and dust, and an ensemble cast of 11 principal actors, can be tough. “I’m also reinventing my style, working with people I haven’t worked before. My DOP, Shikhar Bhatnagar, is a debutant with a fresh perspective on the era and it’s also my first with action directors Anbu-Arivu. Having experimented with the genre before, I wanted a new palette,” he explains.

Sanjay also points out that one hasn’t seen a good gangster film since Shootout At Wadala and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. Meanwhile, buzz is he’s planning a third Shootout with Ekta Kapoor. Will it be in Byculla or Bangkok? Confirming that they have started scripting it, he adds it’s more about the gang wars of Mumbai. “We want to expand the Shootout universe while not being particular to any one place. Lokhandwala is known, but Wadala was unfamiliar to a cinegoer in Bhopal. Calling it ‘Shooutout At Byculla’ will limit its reach by making it Mumbai-centric. We want the next Shootout to be a pan-India film as the story is really powerful,” he reasons.

Sanjay has also acquired the rights to a graphic novel, Rakshak, and is planning a superhero vigilante series. Interestingly, he was introduced to the novel while working on Krrish 4. “I met a writer, Shamik Dasgupta, whom Hrithik (Roshan) got on board and who told me that he’s been a fan of my movies since Aatish. He gave me a series of novels asking for my feedback on them,” recalls Sanjay.

He put the books in his study and forgot about them for a year-and-half. Then, one day, when I was filming Mumbai Saga, Shamik dropped by. There, John asked me if I have read Rakshak and I promised I would. When I read it, I was blown away; this was what I’d been wanting, to create my franchise,” he exults. “The protagonist is a vigilante superhero, in the space of Batman and Daredevil. It’s very different from anything in our industry today. But a vigilante superhero who corrects the wrongs in our society is relevant to the times we’re living in now. Rakshak may seem escapist, but it’s set in the real world. Shamik has incorporated real life incidents into his stories.”

And is there a spin-off to Kaante on his mind too, even though the six protagonists shoot each other at the end of the 2002 adaptation of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs? “I have another script with the spirit of Kaante, about six Indians who pull off the ultimate heist. I’m calling it Khote Sikkey,” he smiles.

If speculation is to be believed, he’s also helming Krrish 4. Suddenly, Sanjay turns evasive, saying carefully, “All I can say for now is that I’m a part of the writing team. Other than that, whatever is to be communicated on the film will be done by Rakesh ji (Roshan) since Krissh is his franchise.”

Clocking in 25 years in the industry today, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta on why he has always paid close attention to the soundtracks in his offerings
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; June 17, 2019)

Director Sanjay Gupta has never favoured the conventional, especially when it came to creating music. Delivering a crackling soundtrack in the gory Kaante and Zinda, he stood out from the melodic landscape that then defined the industry. In an interview with mid-day, he talks of staying in sync with the taste of the "MTV generation" and having faith in his choices.

What role do you think music plays in film-making?
Unlike today, when musicians simply record songs and send us [filmmakers] the demos, we would sit down with composers and take them through scripts and situations. Almost all great filmmakers have had an ear for music because music has a longer shelf-life than films. You may forget characters, but you won't forget good songs. Unlike my peers then, I enjoyed the process of creating a soundtrack. Often, I'd call my composers home for drinks and dinner, and then work on the soundtrack. It was like a party; you had to enjoy the process for it to [reflect on screen]. I'm also going to go back to that scale of music creation for my next, Mumbai Saga.

Which of your compositions were most dear to you? 
When I turned producer with Kaante, I got the freedom that I required to create a soundtrack as desired. I took that film to big producers who turned me down stating that the film had protagonists aged 40+, had no humour or music. For them, a successful song implied something that was sung by one of the Khans, not an action star like Sanjay Dutt. But I knew I was going to create something special. Every day after work, Anand Raj Anand would come over to my home. We would discuss situations and he would come up with creations. We created two CD versions, one a club version, for which we upped the song's tempo, and another lounge version, for which we dropped it.
Similarly, for Dus Kahaniyaan, we created three CD versions. One of them included poems written by Gulzar, and recited by the cast. I took him [Gulzar] through the situations of the film and told him to write as he pleased. Then, cast members Naseer [Naseeruddin Shah] Shabana ji [Azmi], and Nana Patekar, among others, recited them against a soothing ambient score created by Bappa Lahiri.

Can you describe the making of the soundtrack of Zinda, which went on to be a best-seller?
That was a challenge because the film has a black and white palette. I commissioned a track to Strings and told them I needed a track that connects with the MTV generation. They made Yeh Hai Meri Kahani. Throughout the making of the film, no one in my crew was confident of the song. But I was. The video, where you had the cast jam together, also went a long way in enhancing the track. Zinda ended up becoming one among the best soundtracks of my careers.

The filmmaker opens up about his film on Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, which is now on the back burner
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 10, 2018)

In recent times, several movies have faced obstacles because of the nature of their content. Padmaavat, Aiyaary and Udta Punjab are a few examples of films that landed in trouble prior to release because of the subjects on which they were based. The controversies that these movies courted and the protests that followed have rattled Bollywood filmmakers so much that many have now begun to choose their projects carefully, to avoid running into deeper problems at a later stage.

Director Sanjay Gupta’s case is a classic example. The filmmaker spent close to two years researching on a film, which was based on the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but was forced to put it in on the back-burner.

When BT met Sanjay and asked him about it, he said, “Our idea was to explore everything that happened around Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, the skeletons that tumbled out and why information on interrogation in the case is classified, even 64 years after it was conducted. It was not about Gandhi ji or Nathuram Godse, my film was titled Killing Mahatma Gandhi.”

Sanjay Gupta added, “The A-list actor whom I had signed to play Nathuram told me, ‘Sanjay, you are so passionate about this project and you will make a good film, but kya isko lagne denge theatre mein? What’s the point of making it?’ After several discussions, we decided to put it on the back burner. So yes, I feel choked and stifled as a creative person, and there is nothing one can do about it.”

He adds, “I’ve spent a few years working on this project. It’s ambitious and close to my heart. My team and I have put tremendous amount of research into it. We were that close to taking it on floors with an A-list actor, which is the reason I didn’t do anything else, all of last year. I was aiming to start this project which I had to drop, after observing what is happening to filmmakers currently. In the current scenario, I know that my project will not see the light of day, but I will make it someday.”

Most celebrities in current times have refrained from openly commenting for or against something that affects a fraternity member. A recent example was Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who didn’t see too many members from the industry voicing their support for him, during the Padmaavat controversy. Sanjay Gupta, who was once extremely vocal on social media, believes that as a member of society and also as a celebrity, saying something is perceived as either you are for the power corridors or against them.

He elaborates, “There’s a reason I try not to voice my opinion anymore. I have almost stopped doing it. I don’t want anything I say to be misconstrued and used against me at some point. I have to look after my interests. I don’t want my kids’ interests to be jeopardised either. So, I have put a gag order on myself for what I speak up for. There are many people like me, I am sure, who practise this. People who have nothing to lose will continue to shoot their mouth off. There’s so much happening in the country that angers me, but what can anyone do? Padmaavat was entirely about Rajput glory and see what it went through… the lack of unity within the fraternity to call out the wrong is what saddens me the most.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 22, 2017)

Ahead of January 25 box office clash, Kaabil director says he harbours no hard feelings
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; January 4, 2017)

Bollywood is set to witness the first clash of 2017, as Shah Rukh Khan's 'Raees' locks horns with Hrithik Roshan's 'Kaabil' on January 25. But filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, director of 'Kaabil', has no hard feelings. In fact, he is excited about 'Raees'.

"It's the kind of film I used to make earlier. I loved the trailer of Raees, and I am looking forward to it. Rahul (Dholakia; director of 'Raees') is an excellent director and a good friend. It will be interesting to see him direct Shah Rukh," says Gupta.

While Rakesh Roshan ('Kaabil' producer) and SRK have spoken at length about the clash, Gupta feels that such a scenario can be avoided only if the entire industry comes together. "In Hollywood, you won't see two big films releasing on the same day. Even down South, the producers' body is cohesive, so there are rarely any clashes. Unfortunately in B-Town, we have four different producer bodies. So it is practically impossible for the industry to take a collective call," he explains.

Sanjay Gupta says Roshan Sr has trusted his as a director, and he doesn't want to disappoint him. "Both Rakeshji and Hrithik have shown immense faith in me and I don't want to disappoint them. Working with a star like Hrithik comes with its own expectations. I hope we give the audience their money's worth," he says.

Kaabil director Sanjay Gupta, best known for gory, gritty films like Kaante and the Shootout series, says he has had it with the genre now
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 23, 2016)

A quick scan of his repertoire is enough to ascertain that Sanjay Gupta has been a proponent of dark cinema that's often devoid of the pizzazz his contemporaries advocate. "But, I am over that phase. Dark films don't excite me anymore," says the director, whose upcoming film, Kaabil, revolves around a visually impaired protagonist played by Hrithik Roshan.

While the undertone of this romance-thriller might make it seem like an extension of his previous work, the trailer appears colourful.

"My earlier projects have got either an 'A' or 'U/A' certificate, but now I want to reach a wider audience. Also, my children are growing up and watch my films closely. I want to be a responsible filmmaker who leaves a legacy. I will be selective with subjects I choose here on."

Sanjay has often been accused of making a career off Western or Korean remakes. His 2002 actioner, 'Kaante' was inspired by Quentin Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs' (1992), while his last release, the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer 'Jazbaa', was an official remake of Korean thriller, 'Seven Days'. "But at the time of the making them, I admitted to the inspiration. I ask all those who accuse me, where my other films, like 'Dus Kahaniyaan', 'Hameshaa', 'Shootout At Wadala' and 'Shootout At Lokhandwala', are copied from," he retorts. He chides he will have to "make five more Kaabils to change the perception".

But he is far from perturbed. For now, Sanjay is enjoying the reception the film's trailer received. "[My kids] are really excited to watch the film. They love Hrithik. I am proud that I can show them my film without cringing."

Sanjay Gupta on the Kaabil-Raees box office clash and the unique working style of the Roshans
Meena Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 29, 2016)

It may be more than a month away but 2017 is already poised for a blockbuster opening, at least at the box office. Two of the year’s biggest releases, Sanjay Gupta’s Hrithik Roshan-starrer Kaabil and Rahul Dholakia’s action-thriller Raees with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, are set to clash on the Republic day weekend. While neither side has shown interest in moving their dates – producer Rakesh Roshan has maintained that the weekend rightfully belongs to Kaabil since he announced the release date first; Raees makers argue they were left with little choice than to pick the same date as Kaabil.

“There are only so many Fridays in a year,” they had contented. However, Gupta, who is following up his last outing, Jazbaa, which was met with little enthusiasm, believes that the clash can still be averted.

What do you make of the clash?
I wouldn’t say I am in denial but I think the clash could still be averted. In all fairness, Rakeshji did announce the release date first. SRK is a man of principle, a man of his word, he is a Pathan. I can’t fathom SRK stepping on someone’s toes. I don’t know if the films will come on the same day or not but I definitely think they shouldn’t. If someone else had announced a film before him, there’s no way in hell that Rakeshji would release his film on the same date. That is the respect we need to accord one another.

You sound anguished…
Hrithik is 10 years younger than Shah Rukh. So I don’t see this as a competition. Shah Rukh’s competition are Salman (Khan) and Aamir (Khan). Both the films won’t do more than a Rs 150-crore in a week because we have a Rs 300-crore box office window at best. When Salman releases a film solo, he gets Rs 300 crore. Shah Rukh should be looking at getting Rs 300 crore for his film and I’m sure he is looking at that possibility. I don’t understand why he would restrict the business of his own film. This clash is also going to be detrimental to them.

Heard you loved the Raees teaser…
Raees is the kind of film that I would make. I’m looking forward to it. I want to see SRK playing a badass gangster, mouthing “Baniye ka dimaag and miyabhai ki daring”. I like his attitude. It is right up my alley. I was blown away with the first teaser.

Didn’t SRK and you start out from the same stable 25 years ago?
Yes, and I still believe in the Shah Rukh I have known since then. Both of us started out on the same sofa in the Sippy Films office. (SRK-starrer) Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and Aatish (Gupta’s directorial debut) kicked off and released at the same time and were produced by GP Sippy. I may not have gone to Shah Rukh with a film, but, knowing the man he is, I don’t think he can ever play unfair. No one in the business can accuse him of that.

Was there a period of uncertainty after Jazbaa failed?
The phase between Jazbaa and Kaabil could’ve been trying but it felt like someone up there was looking out for me. I met Hrithik for a narration of Kaabil four weeks before Jazbaa released (October, 2015). He instantly said ‘yes’. Three days later, I met Rakeshji (Roshan), he approved of it too and came on board as the producer. The only glitch was that Hrithik could only shoot around July 2016 which would mean I’d be sitting at home for eight-nine months. I couldn’t afford to do that — in an ideal world, I’d be happy to concentrate on prepping for Kaabil — the situation almost compelled me to start another film in the interim to keep my kitchen running. It made me unhappy because that’s not the reason to make a film.

There was talk of a lot of people ‘warning’ Rakesh Roshan about collaborating with you and vice versa…
Rakeshji received a lot of unnecessary advice which he was kind enough to share with me. He was honest enough to name the people who had forewarned him. Similarly, I shared my apprehensions with him. We decided to wear blinkers and focus on Kaabil, go in with complete faith. Rakeshji is a senior and successful filmmaker. I decided that even if there was anything we disagreed on, I’d agree to disagree but never disrespect his views. A director-producer duo is like husband and wife, at least during the duration of the film they are making, and honesty should be the foundation stone in that relationship.

So you just went along with Rakesh Roshan’s vision for the film?
No, I’m saying that we disagreed on few things. I am old school. I respect my seniors. Rakeshji and I were working towards a common goal. You have to understand that there were three distinct, strong creative minds at work — Rakeshji, Hrithik and me. I learnt that every project is make-or-break for the Roshans. There is no limit to their perseverance. When we started filming, I’d get uncomfortable when Hrithik would check the monitor after every shot. I wondered why he’d do that when I was there but I realised that his quest for perfection came from the knowledge that once a shot is finalised, it stays for life. I appreciated his thought and came around to thinking like him. Hrithik was especially involved in Kaabil because he plays a visually impaired character. People have come up to me and said, “Sanjay this guy is amazing. He even looks blind on the film poster.” That is the hours of rehearsal Hrithik put in. I can’t take credit for it.

There were reports of you being unhappy with having Rajesh Roshan on-board as a music director?
On the contrary, one of the reasons I wanted to work with Filmkraft (the Roshan production house) was a chance to work with Rajesh Roshan. I am one of his greatest fans. Yaarana, Julie, Doosra Aadmi, Khatta Meetha… the man is a genius. I have grown up on his music and it was lovely to sit with him and experience his process.

Director Sanjay Gupta talks about the 'Kaabil'-'Raees' box office clash on Republic Day 2017 and how Hrithik Roshan breaks the mould with his performance
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 24, 2016)

Sanjay Gupta's Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam-starrer, 'Kaabil', is set to release on Republic Day 2017, making it clash with Rahul Dholakia's Raees, featuring Shah Rukh Khan. The director is evidently unhappy.

"Such clashes are unnecessary. The film industry is one big family. We don't step on each other's toes. If any other film had announced their release first, I am sure Rakeshji (producer Rakesh Roshan) wouldn't have released 'Kaabil' on the same date," he says, adding that given that the box office only has scope for a 40-crore opening, the releases will inevitably eat into each other's business. "In order to share the profits of one holiday, we'll now have to share income for the whole week. In case of a clash, the weaker film suffers twice as much," he laments.

While Gupta is bothered by the situation, he confesses to having made peace with it. For now, he is enjoying the attention that his film's teaser is receiving. "The teaser was Hrithik's brainchild," says the director, whose 41-second glimpse into the film punctuates a series of muted shots with the hard-hitting lines of its blind protagonist. "When I first heard the concept, I wasn't convinced, but when I saw it, I found it mind-blowing."

Reports had alleged that Hrithik and Sanjay went to several lengths to keep the details of the film under wraps, including denying the use of cellphones on set. But the latter laughs off the rumours diplomatically. "We weren't anal about it, but we went the extra mile to ensure that people see the film's glimpses only when the time is right. This is the kind of movie that thrives on mystery," he says, terming the performance of his leading actor as "path-breaking".

"After watching him essay the role of a blind man in 'Kaabil', people will compare the portrayal of a visually impaired person in cinema with that of Hrithik's. He has broken the mould. There is not an ounce of sympathy in the tone," he says, adding that the point that the film wishes to drive home is that blind people have heightened senses, which makes them equally equipped to lead regular lives.

So, will Hrithik break into his signature moves? "He does shake a leg," confesses Sanjay. "It's senseless to not have a dance sequence in a film featuring Hrithik Roshan. After all, who would enjoy a Michael Jackson concert if he doesn't play Beat It? Kaabil isn't a dance-oriented film though. It showcases the fantastic actor that Hrithik is."

Sanjay confesses that despite the failure of Ashutosh Gowarikar's period-drama, 'Mohenjo Daro', Hrithik's career doesn't need a revival. "He is a superstar and everyone at that stature has had their share of highs and lows. When Jai Ho didn't fare as expected, no one said that Salman needed a push. Hrithik's career is too vast to be bogged down by one flop," he reasons.

Gupta confesses that he enjoyed collaborating with Rakesh, who, despite being involved with the project, didn't hinder with its development. "Once we started rolling, Rakeshji visited us just for a day. His inputs on the rushes were insightful. Since we envisioned the film similarly, there were no conflicts," he signs off.