Anurag Kashyap disowns Bandar, says Bobby Deol film in theatres is ‘not my final cut’
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Following the rollout of Bandar in theatres in June 2026, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has made an honest admission about his directorial, starring Bobby Deol . While the movie has sparked debate over its portrayal of sexual assault and drawn criticism for being misogynistic and weakening the #MeToo movement, the filmmaker says he cannot take responsibility for the version audiences are watching in theatres.
Adding to this, Anurag Kashyap reacted to why he distanced himself from Bandar starring Bobby Deol. Anurag Kashyap says Bandar is not the movie he wanted to rollout During a conversation with comedian Kunal Kamra on his YouTube channel, Anurag Kashyap revealed why he stayed away from promoting Bandar and even discouraged Kunal from watching it. The filmmaker shared, “When I shared don't watch, it's because I can't own up… If you noticed, I didn't give any interviews on the movie. Because whatever came out is not my final cut. So, the criticisms that came the movie's way are quite valid. I wanted to put out something I could stand up for. As a result, I couldn't stand up against the criticisms against the movie," he added.
Meanwhile, Anurag further shared that the movie's biggest issue wasn't with what he shot, but with what was removed during editing. According to him, those changes shifted the movie's message in a way he never intended.
Notably, “Cinematically, everything else is pretty much mine… but they changed it by taking something out. Thus, the perspective has been changed. The tilt has changed a little bit. Whatever was there, was made by me. I shot it. But what they have edited out has really affected the outcome,” he explained.
As per the latest buzz, Anurag Kashyap believes the movie industry has changed drastically over the years, with corporatisation making it harder for directors to protect their creative vision. He shared that when projects get delayed and costs keep rising, filmmakers gradually lose control over their own films. According to him, contracts and legal paperwork no longer carry much weight because once a studio takes over, it is the studio that decides what version of the movie is eventually rolled out.
In further updates, Reflecting on how things were different in the past, he shared producers once backed films because they genuinely believed in the story, sometimes even risking everything they owned. Today, he feels the focus has shifted towards making commercially successful films rather than supporting creative ideas. He also pointed out that with only a handful of major studios dominating the industry, opportunities have become limited, making it increasingly difficult for independent films to get financed and reach audiences.
On top of that, Bandar stars Bobby Deol alongside Sanya Malhotra, Sapna Pabbi and Saba Azad. The movie follows a fading star accused of sexual assault and marks Kashyap's return to the director's chair.
An excerpt from HT review reads, “ Overall, despite losing some momentum in the latter half, Bandar remains an engaging watch. It succeeds because it stays focused on the human cost of an accusation and the circus that follows. In an era where public opinion often arrives before the facts, the movie feels timely and relevant.”
Source: Hindustan Times