Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy Finally Gets OTT Release in India on Zee5
After three years of anticipation and global festival acclaim, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's neo-noir crime thriller Kennedy is finally set to make its Indian debut. The film, which stars Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhatt in lead roles, will bypass theatrical release and premiere directly on the OTT platform Zee5 starting February 20, 2026.
From Cannes to Streaming: Kennedy's Journey Home
Kennedy first captured international attention when it was screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival three years ago. Despite receiving clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) shortly after its festival debut, the film remained unreleased in Indian theaters for reasons that were never publicly disclosed.
The film has since traveled to numerous international festivals, including:
- Sydney Film Festival
- Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea
- Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland
- Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
- London Indian Film Festival
Anurag Kashyap Announces the Long-Awaited Release
On Saturday, Anurag Kashyap took to his Instagram account to share the Kennedy teaser and officially announce the OTT release. The filmmaker expressed both gratitude and philosophical acceptance of the film's delayed arrival, writing: "Finally, our labour of love, angst and everything in between—Kennedy—is coming home after travelling the world on @zee5. All I can say is that I am grateful for having been able to make this film, for my team, my producers, my studio, and at the end of the day—jab jab jo jo hona hai, tab tab so so hota hai (everything happens in its own time)."
Kennedy: A Neo-Noir Crime Thriller with Stellar Cast
Kennedy follows the story of an insomniac ex-police officer who is presumed dead but continues to operate within a corrupt system while secretly seeking redemption. The film represents Kashyap's signature gritty storytelling style within the crime thriller genre.
The cast features:
- Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhatt in lead roles
- Mohit Takalkar in a key supporting role
- Abhilash Thapliyal in a significant character part
- Megha Burman in an important role
The film is presented by Zee Studios and produced by Good Bad Films, marking another collaboration between Kashyap and these production entities. The direct-to-OTT release strategy reflects the evolving distribution landscape for Indian cinema, particularly for films that have already established international festival credentials.
With its February 2026 streaming debut on Zee5, Kennedy will finally reach Indian audiences who have been waiting since its initial Cannes screening. The film's journey from global festival circuits to domestic OTT platform represents a significant moment for Indian independent cinema's distribution patterns.
