Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has taken a bold stance against what he perceives as a toxic and insecure atmosphere within the Hindi film industry. Speaking out about the growing obsession with producing blockbuster films, Kashyap sheds light on how this fixation is stifling creativity and damaging the industry’s overall spirit.
The Insecurity Plaguing Hindi Cinema
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Kashyap shared his frustration with the pressures that have come to dominate the industry, particularly the need to create mass-appeal films. He pointed out that this focus on commercial success has led to a culture where actors and filmmakers are increasingly insecure.
“That’s what got a lot, and instead of focusing on making the film we started focusing on being treated like a star somewhere in Hindi,” he noted. Kashyap attributes this shift to the rise of streaming platforms, which, in his view, brought an American-style work culture that places undue emphasis on image and status.
Kashyap remarked, “Now here what is wrong is that everybody wants to be treated like a star otherwise they feel disrespected. Half the problem in this industry is they feel disrespected.” The director’s comments reveal how the film industry, in its bid to emulate international standards, has lost sight of what should matter most—creating good cinema.
The Malayalam Cinema Alternative
In contrast to the cutthroat environment of Bollywood, Kashyap praised Malayalam cinema for its more collaborative and humble approach to filmmaking. He reflected on his experience working on the set of Rifle Club, a Malayalam film, which he described as a refreshing change. “In Malayalam cinema, they don’t think they have to create a blockbuster, they do it because they want to, and they help each other,” he said.
“There was zero one-upmanship among the actors. Everybody was pushing each other (to do their best), and non-stop having fun,” he recalled. Kashyap was particularly impressed by how the actors focused on enjoying the process rather than worrying about individual status. His time on the set of Rifle Club was a stark contrast to the pressures he had experienced in the Hindi film industry.
The Downfall of Creativity in Bollywood
Kashyap also criticized the industry’s growing reliance on remakes and sequels, stating that the desperation for success has led filmmakers to rehash old ideas instead of taking risks with new and original stories. “People are taking 20-year-old films and remaking it or making a sequel of it,” he lamented, pointing to a general lack of creativity in Hindi cinema today.
He also recounted his experience working under the studio system while making Bombay Velvet (2015), a film that starred Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar. Kashyap’s words were candid: “The director is a version of being a pimp. You get paid based on who is in. You get paid based on how much it sells for. You get freedom based on that.” This, he believes, has further compounded the insecurity within the industry, leading to a vicious cycle of unoriginal content and excessive pressure on filmmakers.
A Call for Creative Freedom and Collaboration
Ultimately, Kashyap’s critique of the Hindi film industry is a call for a return to the roots of filmmaking—creativity, collaboration, and storytelling. He urges industry professionals to focus on making films because of passion and not because of the commercial pressures imposed by the system. The filmmaker stated that collaboration and mutual respect, traits he observed in Malayalam cinema, are essential for breaking free from the insecurity and desperation that currently plague Bollywood.
The post Anurag Kashyap calls Hindi film industry “Desperate” for blockbusters, praises Malayalam cinema’s humble approach: “There was zero one-upmanship among the actors” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
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