Anurag Kashyap’s Disappointment with Bollywood: A New Beginning
Anurag Kashyap, one of India’s most respected filmmakers, recently shared his growing frustration with Bollywood. He feels that the industry has drained his creativity and has decided to leave Mumbai. He’s planning to move to South India next year in search of fresh inspiration. Kashyap believes that if he stays in Bollywood, he will become an “old man” filled with disappointment, trapped by the industry’s shallow attitude.
Rising Costs and Lost Creative Freedom
One of the main reasons Anurag is frustrated is the rising cost of filmmaking. He explained that with high production expenses, filmmakers like him are forced to focus on profits rather than creativity. “From the start, it’s all about how to sell the film,” he said. “The joy of filmmaking is lost.” This pressure to make money has taken away the freedom he once had to experiment and try new things in his films.
Moving to the South for Fresh Ideas
Because of these challenges, Kashyap has decided to move to the South of India for a new start. “I want to go where there is stimulation, where I can experiment again,” he explained. He believes that moving away from Mumbai is necessary, as staying in Bollywood would only make him more disillusioned with the industry.
The Bollywood Remake Problem
Kashyap also criticized Bollywood for its obsession with remakes. He pointed out that films like Manjummel Boys, which could never be made in Hindi cinema, would instead be remade if they became successful elsewhere. “Bollywood keeps remaking what’s already worked. They won’t take risks with new ideas,” he said. For him, this shows how the industry is unwilling to try anything fresh or innovative.
First-Generation Actors and Their Star Mentality
Anurag also spoke about the first-generation actors in Bollywood, calling them “entitled” and more interested in being stars than in acting. He criticized how talent agencies promote this mindset. “No one wants to act—they just want to be stars,” he said. These agencies focus more on creating a glamorous image for actors, rather than helping them improve their acting skills. Instead of sending them to acting workshops, they push them to focus on their physical appearance, sending them to the gym instead of honing their craft.
The Problem with Talent Agencies
Kashyap was also critical of how talent agencies exploit young actors. He explained that while these agencies don’t help actors develop their talent, they quickly cash in when an actor becomes a star. He said the agencies “brainwash” actors, telling them what to do to become famous. This, he believes, creates a toxic environment where the focus is more on appearance and stardom than on acting.
Moving Forward: A Fresh Start
Anurag Kashyap’s decision to leave Bollywood is his way of rejecting an industry that, in his eyes, has lost its creative spirit. By moving to the South, he hopes to find a place where he can create films freely, without the pressure of profits and the shallow mindset that dominates Mumbai. It’s the start of a new chapter, where Kashyap hopes to rediscover the joy of filmmaking.