RENOWNED FILMMAKER ANURAG KASHYAP ISN’T HAPPY WITH PRESENT BOLLYWOOD AND HE WANNA QUIT MUMBAI
By
TANVEER ZAIDI (Actor-Author-Educationist)
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, renowned for his bold, unconventional storytelling in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, has made a significant revelation regarding his future in the Indian film industry.
In an interaction with the media people, Anurag Kashyap expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the current state of Bollywood, revealing that he plans to leave Mumbai in 2025 and move to South India.
His reasons for this drastic decision stem from his frustration with the industry’s obsession with profits, remakes, and star-making culture, which he believes have stifled creativity and innovation in filmmaking.
Now it is difficult for me to go out and experiment as it comes at a cost, which makes my producers think about profit and margins,” Anurag told The Hollywood Reporter.
He further elaborated, stating that the commercial pressures of the Bollywood film industry undermine the essence of filmmaking.
“Right from the beginning, before the film starts, it becomes about how to sell it. So, the joy of filmmaking is sucked out.
That’s why I want to move out of Mumbai next year. I am going to the South. I want to go where there is stimulation. Otherwise, I will die as an old man,” he confessed, emphasizing his need for a creative space that nurtures fresh ideas and risk-taking.
Anurag’s comments reflect his growing disillusionment with the Bollywood industry, which he claims is fixated on replicating successful formulas rather than embracing innovation.
He pointed out that films like Manjummel Boys, which feature fresh and experimental narratives, would never see the light of day in Bollywood.
“The mindset is to remake what’s already worked. They will not try anything new,” he lamented. This reluctance to experiment with new ideas, he says, is a significant reason why he feels creatively stifled in the Hindi film industry.
Anurag Kashyap is a globally renowned filmmaker mostly famous for his dark and gritty storytelling, which often explores social and political issues:
Anurag Kashyap is credited with pioneering India’s indie scene in the early 2000s. He’s considered a torch-bearer of Indian indie cinema and the face of new-wave Indian cinema.
Anurag Kashyap’s 2012 film Gangs of Wasseypur is considered a landmark that redefined Indian filmmaking. It set a new standard for gritty storytelling and brought a wave of change to how films were made and consumed in India.
Anurag Kashyap is known for his strong storytelling style and for proving that great stories can be told with limited resources.
Anurag’s films often feature dark themes and protagonists who deal with excessive drug, smoke, or alcohol consumption, personal guilt, extreme rage, and arrogance.
Anurag Kashyap’s films often present social and political issues.
Anurag Kashyap’s films have won many awards, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. He was also awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government in 2013.
