Anurag Kashyap declares he has moved out of Mumbai, left behind ‘toxic’ Bollywood: ‘Everyone’s chasing the next Rs 800 cr film’

One of the pioneers of modern Hindi cinema, Anurag Kashyap has gifted the industry with some of its most remarkable and widely discussed films, with the most notable example being the two-part crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur. However, the filmmaker has been decrying the changing atmosphere in Bollywood for quite some time now, even going so far as to state that the industry has become entirely profit-driven, with little regard for cinema as an art form. Now, two months after announcing his intention to leave Mumbai, Kashyap has followed through, relocating to a city far removed from the heart of Bollywood.

“I’ve left Mumbai. I want to stay away from film people. The industry has become too toxic. Everyone is chasing unrealistic targets, trying to make the next Rs 500 or Rs 800 crore film. The creative atmosphere is gone,” he said during a recent chat with The Hindu. Mentioning that he had already paid the first rent for his new home, Kashyap, however, chose not to disclose the city he had moved to. Nonetheless, the publication, citing a source close to the filmmaker, reported that he is now in Bengaluru.

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Reflecting on his decision to leave the city that had been his home for decades and where he navigated countless struggles during his journey to the top, Kashyap remarked, “A city is not just a structure but also its people. People here… they pull you down.” He also pointed out that he was not alone in this decision, revealing that several filmmakers had already left Mumbai. He added, “The biggest exodus is to the Middle East, especially Dubai. Others have fled to Portugal, London, Germany, US. These are mainstream filmmakers I am talking about.”

Since making this change, Kashyap noted that his life has transformed significantly as he feels far less “burdened” and now has the time and mental space to focus on his projects, as well as his physical and emotional well-being. “My stress is much less, and I have left drinking,” he stated. During the conversation, he also revealed plans to direct a Malayalam-Hindi film and a Tamil film in the near future.