Anurag Kashyap Criticises Bollywood, Plans Shift to South Cinema for Creative Freedom

Frustrated by Bollywood’s commercial mindset, Anurag Kashyap seeks inspiration in South Indian cinema for a more stimulating creative environment.

January 1, 2025: Renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has voiced his frustration with Bollywood’s profit-driven culture and revealed plans to shift his base to South Indian cinema in search of a more stimulating creative environment. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the director expressed his disappointment with the Hindi film industry’s mindset, which he described as being focused on remakes and profit margins rather than originality and storytelling.

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Profit Over Passion in Bollywood

Kashyap criticized Bollywood’s increasing focus on commercial viability over artistic expression, stating, “Now it is difficult for me to go out and experiment as it comes at a cost, which makes my producers think about profit and margins.”

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He explained that the joy of filmmaking has been overshadowed by the pressure to guarantee profits even before a project begins. “Right from the beginning, before the film starts, it becomes about how to sell it. So, the joy of filmmaking is sucked out,” he said.

Looking South for Inspiration

Frustrated by these constraints, Kashyap shared his decision to relocate to South India, where he believes a healthier creative ecosystem exists. “I want to go where there is stimulation. Otherwise, I will die as an old man. I am so disappointed and disgusted by my own industry,” he admitted.

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He praised the Malayalam film industry, citing films like Manjummel Boys, which he claims Bollywood would likely remake instead of daring to create something original.

Isolation and Betrayal in Bollywood

Kashyap also spoke candidly about his personal experiences with colleagues and friends ghosting him. He remarked, “One of my actors, whom I thought of as friends, ghost you because they want to be a certain way. That happens mostly here; it doesn’t happen in Malayalam cinema.”

Anurag Kashyap in South Cinema

The filmmaker has already made inroads into the Southern film industry, recently acting in the Malayalam action thriller ‘Rifle Club’, directed by Aashiq Abu. The film was released in theatres on December 19, 2024.

Kashyap’s bold move and candid revelations have reignited discussions around Bollywood’s creativity crisis and the contrasting artistic landscape of South Indian cinema. Whether this shift will spark a larger change remains to be seen, but for Kashyap, the quest for creative freedom has just begun.

Tags: Anurag Kashyap, Bollywood, South Cinema, Filmmaking, Hindi Film Industry, Creative Freedom, Manjummel Boys, Malayalam Cinema