Renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has announced plans to leave Mumbai, citing mounting dissatisfaction with the Hindi film industry’s evolving dynamics. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, the Gangs of Wasseypur director expressed his frustration with what he called the “stifling” environment caused by the industry’s current practices and priorities.
“I am moving out of Mumbai,” Kashyap declared, pointing to rising filmmaking costs and the industry’s growing emphasis on profitability over creativity. “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. 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.
Moving South for Creative Freedom
Kashyap disclosed his intention to relocate to South India, where he feels the creative environment is more stimulating. “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.
The filmmaker’s remarks highlight a growing divide between the Hindi and South Indian film industries, with the latter gaining widespread acclaim for its innovative storytelling and artistic freedom. Kashyap recently experienced this firsthand during his acting debut in the Malayalam film Rifle Club.
Scathing Criticism of Talent Management Agencies
Kashyap also criticized talent management agencies, accusing them of exploiting young actors for profit. “Nobody wants to act—they all want to be stars. The agency won’t make anybody a star, but the moment someone becomes a star, the agency makes money off them. They will brainwash them and tell them what they need to do to become a star. They won’t send them to workshops but to the gym—it’s all glam-glam,” he said.
He recounted an incident where an actor distanced themselves on the advice of their agency, only to return seeking guidance after being abandoned. “This is what the agency does—they just make money off you. They aren’t invested in building new careers,” he added.
Betrayed by Industry Peers
Adding to his disillusionment, Kashyap revealed feeling betrayed by actors he once considered friends. “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,” he noted.
Kashyap’s candid remarks underline his growing discontent with Bollywood’s shifting priorities, sparking debates about the industry’s creative direction and the filmmaker’s potential legacy.