Anurag Kashyap confirms leaving ‘toxic’ Bollywood, says focus is on big films

Photo: AFP

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has confirmed that he has left Mumbai and is planning to stay away from the Hindi film industry, which he calls “toxic.” Last December, he had mentioned in an interview that he was thinking about relocating to South India. In a recent chat, he confirmed that he had indeed left Mumbai and explained why he feels the way he does about Bollywood.

Anurag Kashyap has been openly critical of the Hindi film industry in the past. He shared that the industry has changed in a way that no longer feels inspiring to him. According to a source, Anurag has likely moved to Bangalore. He explained that the film world in Mumbai has become too focused on making big-budget films. Everyone is chasing the goal of making ₹500 or ₹800 crore films, and in the process, the creative spirit is being lost.

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In a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Anurag admitted that he was so disappointed with the state of Bollywood that he felt forced to look for a more "stimulating" environment in South India. He said, “I envy them (South filmmakers) because they still get to make films without constantly thinking about profit.” He added that in Bollywood, everything is now about how to sell a movie, and this focus on profits takes away the joy of making films. For Anurag, filmmaking is not just about the money, but about creativity and experimentation, which he feels is being stifled in Bollywood. That's why he decided to move out of Mumbai and explore other places where he can work more freely.

Anurag’s current work involves promoting the Malayalam film Footage. He presented the movie, which was directed by Saiju Sreedharan and stars Manju Warrier, Vishak Nair, and Gayathri Ashok. Although the film was released in August 2024, the Hindi version is set to be released on March 7, 2025.

Anurag Kashyap is also working on his upcoming project, Dacoit, where he will play the role of a fearless cop. This movie is being made in both Hindi and Telugu and stars Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur. The release date of the film has not been announced yet.