Anurag Kashyap, the celebrated filmmaker known for his raw and realistic portrayals of Indian life, recently revealed an incident that led him to abandon a film project. In a conversation, Kashyap recounted how he was once scolded by a superstar's team for directly messaging the actor. This ultimately led to his departure from the film.
Kashyap, a prominent figure in contemporary Indian cinema, has often defied convention, both in his filmmaking style and his interactions within the industry. He began his career as a co-writer in Ram Gopal Varma's crime drama Satya (1998). He made his directorial debut with Paanch, which faced censorship issues and never had a theatrical release. Kashyap gained prominence with films like Black Friday (2004), Dev.D (2009), and the critically acclaimed Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
The director has often spoken candidly about his experiences in Bollywood, including the challenges and frustrations he has faced. His film Bombay Velvet was a dream project that became a huge disappointment and box-office failure. Kashyap mentioned in an interview that he felt that people did not understand his films.
The incident with the superstar highlights the power dynamics and protocols that exist within the Hindi film industry. While Kashyap did not reveal the name of the superstar, his anecdote sheds light on the often-rigid structures that govern communication and collaboration in Bollywood. It appears direct access to major stars is often heavily guarded by their management teams.
Kashyap's decision to leave the film underscores his principles and his unwillingness to compromise his creative freedom. It also suggests a potential clash between Kashyap's more independent and direct approach and the more formal, hierarchical systems in place within mainstream Bollywood.
Recently, Kashyap has expressed his disillusionment with Bollywood, even calling it "toxic". He has spoken about a shift in focus towards chasing unrealistic box office targets, with everyone trying to make ₹500 or ₹800 crore films. This environment, he feels, has stifled creativity and made it difficult for him to experiment.
This prompted his decision to relocate to South India, where he perceives a more stimulating and less profit-driven filmmaking environment. Kashyap has also praised Tamil cinema for being rooted. He is currently promoting the Malayalam film Footage. He will also be seen playing a cop in the upcoming movie Dacoit, which is being shot in Hindi and Telugu.
Despite facing setbacks and expressing his frustrations, Kashyap remains a significant voice in Indian cinema. He continues to explore new avenues and challenge conventional norms, both through his films and his outspoken views on the industry.
