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If he could, he would take a microphone and announce it to the world, repeatedly: ‘My name is Anurag Kashyap and I am not a caterer’. The filmmaker says he will continue to make films that he believes in, even if there is a section who will appreciate him only when he makes “violent” gangster movies, the ones they want to see.
Kashyap’s three-decade long career is dotted with political dramas, thrillers, sci-fi mystery and even an animated film, but all of them are eclipsed in the public memory by a genre which has come to define him- gangster dramas. His two-part acclaimed series Gangs of Wasseypur is also considered by many as one of his finest works.
Which is why, every time the filmmaker steps out from the world of violence, a section feels he is losing his mojo, Kashyap tells Indianexpress.com. His last four directorial have explored interpersonal relationships–sometimes even with an undertone of political commentary–from Manmarziyaan, Choked, Dobaaraa to his last release Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat.
“Even though the budgets were low, Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat is my biggest flop. It is equivalent to No Smoking,” Kashyap tells Indianexpress.com as he reflects on the film which released in February this year to mixed reviews. The musical romantic drama featured Alaya F and newcomer Karan Mehta.
“But luckily for Almost Pyaar, it had a second life on Netflix. It is very much my film; it is close to me, and I love that film. There were people who were disappointed that it wasn’t a gangster film and said, ‘What has happened to him?’ That’s their problem honestly,” the director adds.
When the teaser of his next feature, Kennedy, dropped, the tide changed again with people saying the film has got him “back”, something which puzzles Kashyap. Kennedy, billed as a neo noir thriller, stars Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone.
“They watch Kennedy and say, ‘Oh Anurag is back!’ I mean, I just released a film two months ago, I didn’t go anywhere. It’s just you want me to keep making crime films but there’s so much more one has to offer! I’m making films that I want to make. I’m not a caterer, I’ll not cater to what you expect from me. I’ll not fall in that trap of repeating a formula.”
The director says it is “too easy” for him to make a gangster film, but he wants to explore a lot many things. “Otherwise, it gets very boring. For a section I’m only ‘back’ when there’s violence in my movies. If there’s violence or a character abuses, they’re like, ‘Oh he’s back!’ Their idea of Anurag Kashyap is as limited as their idea of Sunny Leone,” he adds.
Kennedy is set to close the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on August 20. Kashyap, along with Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat will also be doing a special talk on the film a day prior to the big screening.
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