Renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has made a stark admission about the current state of creative freedom in Indian cinema. He stated that the political and censorship climate has shifted so significantly that he would be unable to make some of his most acclaimed earlier works, such as 'Ugly' or 'Dev.D', today.
The Changing Landscape of Censorship
In a candid conversation with Galatta Plus, Kashyap reflected on the dramatic transformation over the past decade. He pointed out that the collective fight filmmakers once waged for movies like 'Udta Punjab' seems a thing of the past. The director asserted that the current political scenario and the evolved approach of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) would prevent his gritty, realistic films from getting clearance.
"Today, when I make films, I get suggestions to create something like 'Ugly', 'Dev.D', or even 'Gangs of Wasseypur'," Kashyap explained. "The reality is, I cannot make them. They would not pass. They would not clear the censors. The political scenario has changed. Censorship has changed. Everything has changed." He critically added that the industry is now largely run by corporates and individuals without "skin in the game."
Praise for Southern Cinemas and a Dig at Hindi Film Industry
Kashyap contrasted the Hindi film industry's situation with the vitality he sees in southern cinema. He highlighted the consistent innovation in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu film industries, particularly praising their low-budget, content-driven films.
"Why is Tamil cinema great? Why is Malayalam cinema great?" he asked. He cited examples like 'The Girlfriend' and 'Court: State vs. a Nobody' as models of successful low-budget storytelling. According to Kashyap, the key difference is that in these industries, producers who are genuinely invested in cinema are backing films, a model he finds lacking in the current Hindi film landscape.
On Directing Shah Rukh Khan and Clarifying 'Bandar'
The filmmaker was equally forthright when asked about the possibility of directing superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Kashyap dismissed the idea, citing the immense pressure from a massive fan base. "Even if he agrees to adhere to my sensibilities, I still cannot do it," he said. "When there is a massive fan base, if you disappoint them, they will murder the director."
Kashyap's comments come as he promotes his upcoming film, 'Bandar', starring Bobby Deol, which had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film has sparked debate, with some early reviews labeling it provocative and even "anti-MeToo." Kashyap directly addressed this speculation in a talk with SCREEN, clarifying the film's core theme.
"It has nothing to do with MeToo," he stated. "MeToo is about power, somebody using a position of power to do something. This film has nothing to do with that kind of powerplay, or that kind of sexual angle." He explained that while 'Bandar' deals with a false rape accusation case, it does not engage with the specific dynamics of the MeToo movement.
Anurag Kashyap's remarks, made on December 23, 2025, offer a sobering look at the constraints facing filmmakers in contemporary India, underscoring a perceived narrowing of the space for bold, unconventional narratives in mainstream Hindi cinema.
