New Delhi
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap believes cinema should be about honesty, not lifestyle. Known for bold storytelling in films like Black Friday, Dev D and Mukkabaaz, Kashyap says he doesn’t see himself as fearless, only truthful. I’m very honest with my filmmaking. Most people want fame and lifestyle, but I just want to keep making movies, he told.
Kashyap added that people call him courageous only because they hesitate to speak openly. What worries him most is not criticism, but when backlash affects his loved ones, actors, and collaborators. I care about my people and my cinema. I speak up because I’ve seen this industry for long and know the mistakes being repeated, he said.
His latest project Nishaanchi is a crime drama about twin brothers, starring debutant Aaishvary Thackray alongside Vedika Pinto, Monika Panwar, Kumud Mishra, and Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub. Written in 2016, Kashyap waited for the right team before making it. Though the trailer drew comparisons with Gangs of Wasseypur, the director clarified it is a different story, inspired more by 60s and 70s Hindi cinema classics like Deewaar and Trishul.
Kashyap has had a busy run recently — attending Venice Film Festival, premiering his film Bandar in Toronto, and presenting Jugnuma: The Fable. Despite challenges in the industry, he insists on staying true to cinema rather than chasing formulas. I don’t want to get into that muck, he said, adding that he has even moved away from Mumbai to keep working with fresh energy.
