Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has revealed that he left Bollywood to escape the lack of creative freedom in the industry. The veteran director has often criticised the Mumbai film scene, saying it restricts creators and creates a toxic, fast-paced environment that stifles originality.
Kashyap has spoken openly about the struggles filmmakers face in Hindi cinema, including unofficial bans and pressure from the corporate side of the industry. In search of creative liberty, he relocated to Bengaluru, where he says he has found the space to work freely.
In Bengaluru, Anurag Kashyap is engaging with Kannada cinema as well as other South Indian film industries. He is exploring opportunities to direct and act in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films. The filmmaker described the city’s calm lifestyle and supportive creative culture as ideal for producing meaningful cinema.
Kashyap shared that his recent film, Nishanchi, was conceived in the style of his acclaimed Gangs of Wasseypur series. He called the project a tribute to some of the classics he made in Bollywood and expressed pride in completing it during a particularly challenging phase of his career.
The director also revealed that the story for Nishanchi was initially prepared while he was working on Mukkabaaz (2016). He had wanted Sushant Singh Rajput to play the lead, but scheduling conflicts with Dharma Productions prevented the project from taking off at the time. Eventually, he cast a talented actor from the politically connected Thackeray family after seeing his performance in auditions, dismissing claims of nepotism.
Kashyap praised the South Indian film industry for supporting him during tough times. He emphasised that he plans to focus entirely on the South rather than returning to Bollywood, working strategically as both actor and director in the region.
He concluded that Bengaluru offers the perfect combination of peace and opportunity, allowing him to create without compromise, while celebrating the region’s vibrant cinematic culture.
