Anurag Kashyap on the year that was, “We were sad about Nishaanchi but…”

By Subhash K. Jha -

December 31, 2025 - 1:57 PM IST

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had two films released on two mediums in 2025 – Nishaanchi and Kennedy. He looked back at this and the year as a whole in an interview with us.

Anurag Kashyap on the year that was, “We were sad about Nishaanchi but…”

2025 was the year of the big move for you in the sense that you shifted base from Mumbai to Bengaluru
I still work in Hindi films. I just don’t have to live in Mumbai to work in Hindi films. I am actually more productive away from Mumbai.

2025 was a seesaw year for your audience: one of your best works Nishaanchi didn’t get the audience it deserved
My whole life has been a seesaw with the audience. Some made small amounts of money. A lot didn’t, but I am happy they have a shelf life and I get to make what I want. We were sad about Nishaanchi but we also realised it was one whole film. People were annoyed that it was broken into two halves. Maybe, we should have found courage to release both parts together or as part 1 and 2 simultaneously, but we realise things only in retrospect. I am glad though Amazon dropped both parts together.

Were you happy with the way Kennedy reached an audience?
Obviously, we aren’t happy the way Kennedy reached the audience. It deserved a theatrical but it was out of our hands. People at Zee Studios, who made the film, are not there anymore and the new people are still figuring out a way to release it. But any which ways I am glad people got to see it.

Where do you place Kennedy in your repertoire?
Kennedy to me is very personal and was a let out. I probably let go of a lot of anger with that film and have mellowed a bit.

Rahul Bhat, who played the lead in Kennedy, is one of the best actors you have worked with
I don’t know how it would have worked if the protagonist was any other way. I always wanted Rahul to embody Uday Shetty and the stories I heard of him from Sudhir Mishra. Rahul Bhat is a fantastic and a very selective and a hungry actor. He gives all of himself to anything he believes in.

How did Sunny Leone happen?
I wrote the role for Sunny. She was the only choice and I am grateful she came aboard.

Nowadays you are more an actor than a director
I am acting because that’s how I make money and it’s not too bad. Working with new age directors, I am also learning new things.

Name your favourite films of the year?
My favourites would be mostly Malyalam films like Ponman, Kalamkaval, Kantha, Lokah and then the Kannada film Su From So, the Tamil Bison then One Battle After Another. I saw and loved Mehran Amrohi’s Chidia…. Sentimental Value, Humans In The Loop, Bad Girl, Sabar Bonda. I didn’t see many films this year because of acting.