Anurag Kashyap Reveals Why He Replaced Ranveer With Ranbir

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has opened up about one of the toughest decisions of his career—the casting shift in his ambitious 2013 film Bombay Velvet. The film, which starred Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, was expected to be a groundbreaking venture but failed to generate the expected success at the box office. The project was also marred by production delays and budget overruns, leaving a lasting impact on Kashyap's journey in the industry.

The Original Plan: Ranveer Singh as the Lead

In a candid conversation, Kashyap revealed that his original plan was to cast Ranveer Singh—then a newcomer with only a few films to his name—in the role of Johnny Balraj. Ranveer had auditioned for the film in its early stages and was eager to take on the part.

However, at that point, many in the industry did not believe in Ranveer’s potential as a lead actor. Kashyap shared, “I had a small and new actor then—Ranveer Singh. But no one had faith in him. Directors used to call him a ‘treadmill’ because of his energy.”

Ranveer’s raw and intense audition left a strong mark on the filmmaker, but the pressure to work with a ‘bankable face’ eventually led Kashyap to reconsider his choice.

Industry Pressure and the Switch to Ranbir Kapoor

The film's budget began to escalate during pre-production, pushing Kashyap into a difficult position. Wanting the film to get the green light, he sought advice from big names in the industry like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra. The unanimous suggestion was to cast a bigger star, one who would attract wider audience attention and justify the rising costs.

“I talked to everyone. They said, ‘You're mad if you’re not doing this with a big actor.’ The whole industry told me these were the right decisions being made on my behalf,” Kashyap revealed. The filmmaker eventually convinced himself that replacing Ranveer with Ranbir was the correct choice, though it took him over a year emotionally to come to terms with the decision.

Bombay Velvet’s Fallout and Ranveer’s Rise

Despite the star cast and a grand production, Bombay Velvet was met with criticism and failed commercially. The experience was a setback for Anurag Kashyap, leading him into a period of introspection and fewer directorial ventures in the years that followed.

Ironically, around the same time, Ranveer Singh’s career took off. Following acclaimed performances in Ram-Leela (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015), and Padmaavat (2018), Ranveer became one of the biggest stars in Bollywood—with a dynamic screen presence that earned him both awards and commercial success.

His personality, once deemed “too much” by some in the industry, became his biggest strength.

Ranveer was last seen in Singham Again and is now gearing up for the release of his next project, Dhurandhar, later this year.

Anurag Kashyap’s honest reflection shines a light on how external pressures and perceptions about star power can influence filmmaking choices in Bollywood. Bombay Velvet may not have lived up to its expectations, but it remains a milestone in the careers of both Kashyap and the actors associated with it—especially Ranveer Singh, whose rise since then has been nothing short of remarkable.