Despite the recent lackluster performance of his films at the box office, Anurag Kashyap remains a highly influential filmmaker in contemporary Indian cinema. His unique style and support for emerging talents have left a significant mark on the industry. However, Kashyap’s struggles with box office success are no secret, and he has openly addressed this issue
Recently, he explained why he never attempted to make films with big stars like Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan. During a conversation with Puja Talwar, he revealed that he came to Bollywood to make films. There was a time when he succumbed to the habit of chasing stars. He reveals that everybody was telling him, If you are doing this much without stars, imagine what you will do with stars.’ That’s when the tide turns the other way and the slide starts.
Anurag Kashyap emphasized that working with stars brings certain expectations, and filmmakers must adhere to their image and cater to their fanbase. He admitted, “I don’t know how to do that. If you don’t cater to their fanbase while working with a star, they will cancel you. And my film did get canceled because I was making my own movie. I am not catering to anybody’s friends or fanbase.
He also highlighted that in India, fans can be extremely passionate, to the point of fanaticism. This level of hero worship doesn’t exist to the same extent in other countries, providing more creative freedom to filmmakers and actors. Kashyap believes that stars will remain influential even in the era of OTT platforms.