‘Bobby Deol is so emotionally naked in Bandar’: Anurag Kashyap lauds actor for picking up his film over big projects, surrendering completely

He went on to describe the ensemble that supports Bobby Deol in the film, made up almost entirely of celebrated theatre artists from across India. “Every single scene he has performed is with such fantastic actors. Bandar is full of theatre actors, great actors from all languages, five National Award winners. The film is a character study of Bobby’s character, but in every scene, he’s sharing the screen with some incredible actor who’s come for two, three scenes. There’s Raj B. Shetty in it, there’s Ridhi Sen from Nagarkirtan in it, Saba Azad, Sanya Malhotra, Jitendra Joshi, Nagesh Bhonsle, Sukant Goel, Ankush Gedam. And there are no junior artists in the film. They’re all theatre actors, some hundred theatre actors.”

Anurag praised Bobby Deol for embracing the rawness the role demanded, day after day. “But he’s so vulnerable in the film. And he’s put himself through it on a day-to-day basis, every day. And he finds the whole experience… so he talks about it to other people. And everybody comes to me and says, ‘Bobby said it was so incredible working in that film.’ And because of that, what happens is a lot of other people want to come and work with you. Yes, because Bobby Deol is saying so.”

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In the same conversation, Anurag Kashyap also addressed perceptions that he had “lost his way” in filmmaking,  a criticism often likened to the career trajectory of his mentor, Ram Gopal Varma. “You know, everybody is like, ‘Oh, Anurag probably lost his way. He’s only complaining, or he’s going nuts, or he’s not well, or maybe he’s losing himself.’ And the funniest thing is, when they said, ‘He’s going the RGV way,’ I said, ‘I talk to RGV on a daily basis,  almost every day. Whatever the man is doing, he knows what he’s doing. He’s enjoying himself. He’s not catering to you anymore. So your disappointment is because of your expectation — of what he should be.’”

Anurag also revealed a personal turning point: “I’m saying, I’m enjoying myself now. And no, I’m openly saying it: I went into a depression. I’ve come out of it. I’m enjoying myself now. I’m enjoying myself, and I feel like I’ve found a new mojo.”

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