Sanjay Gupta's friends spring a surprise on his birthday

Director Sanjay Gupta's friends sprang a surprise for him on his 40th birthday bash - they not only organised a party at Taj Land's End but also got his former wife to attend.

Recounting the pleasurable experience, Gupta, who turned 40 April 14, told IANS: "I was rehearsing for our 'Shootout At Lokhandwala' concert on April 13. At 11.45 p.m. my friends told me to come up to one of the suites in the same hotel where we were supposed to have the concert. They said they needed me to check and approve the costumes.

"When I went up, there were a hundred of my close friends. There was cake and champagne, and a dinner. But most importantly they had invited my ex-wife to join us. She stayed on right through. The next morning we were back rehearsing, preparing for the concert."

Any chance of them (Gupta and ex-wife) coming together again?

"I don't even think about it. Just having her as a friend is enough."

At 40, Gupta feels his journey has just begun.

"At last now I've the freedom to do what I want to do - make my kind of films, write my kind of books and create my own music. People may not take me seriously now. But I plan for the future. The concert we did on Saturday is proof of it. No one in the industry has attempted something similar."

The concert, presenting the best of Gupta's production house White Feather, on stage was an amazing experience.

"I'm still reeling. Right from Euphoria to Strings to Shibani Kayshap, they all performed our songs. Isha Koppiker and Koena Mitra performed all our numbers. The way it was organised - from the live concert to the sit-down dinner, has never been done before. After the concert, we all moved by the sea for dinner."

Apparently, a small fortune was spent on the evening.

"At 5 a.m. we had the hotel management pleading for us to shut down the music. No one wanted to leave! We had close to 600 people. All connected with White Feather; all our employees and their families."

It was a double celebration.

"It wasn't so much to do with my birthday. Exactly seven years ago on the same day in a restaurant in Pali Hill, White Feather was born on 14 April. Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt declared the company open by cutting a cake. This week we completed seven years. I think we've come a long way in a very short time."