If Bollywood had a mascot for throwing tantrums, Anurag Kashyap — scowling, ranting, and swinging at anything that moves — would be it. The Gangs of Wasseypur director, who fancies himself the industry’s
grumpiest truth-teller, has a hobby: stirring up drama. From nepotism to Netflix, Sanjay Leela Bhansali to his own brother Abhinav Kashyap over Dabangg, Kashyap’s got beef with everyone. His latest whining session is about India’s first AI-driven Hanuman film, which he’s decided is the apocalypse for Bollywood. But let’s be real: is Kashyap a visionary crying wolf, or just a loudmouth hippy rebel who loves the sound of his own gripes?
Kashyap’s rap sheet of rants is longer than one of his brooding films. He’s called Bollywood “brainless,” slammed its ego-driven stars, and dismissed its formulaic flicks as cinematic garbage. When Pushpa took India by storm, did he applaud its grit? Nope. He used it to club Bollywood’s lack of originality. He’s even brawled with his brother, Abhinav, over Dabangg’s success. And then there’s his Netflix meltdown. After Sacred Games made him a global name, Kashyap didn’t pop champagne – he trashed Netflix’s India team as “dishonest,” called CEO Ted Sarandos “dumb,” and whined that they ghosted his 900-page Maximum City script. Most directors would move on. Kashyap? He’s still sulking, dragging that grudge like a toddler with a tattered blankie. Oh, and after a public spat with Karan Johar, what did our rebel do? Turned around and made Bombay Velvet with him. So much for sticking to his guns.
Now, Kashyap’s got his knickers in a twist over Hanuman, an AI-driven film. He’s screaming that it’ll kill Bollywood jobs, as if he’s suddenly the patron saint of crew members. But hold up – didn’t this guy produce an animated Hanuman two decades ago? By his own logic, wasn’t he snatching gigs from live actors back then? And where was his righteous fury when Hansal Mehta’s son shot a short film on an iPhone, supposedly sidelining cinematographers?
Crickets. Kashyap’s selective outrage is as blatant as his hypocrisy. This isn’t about protecting Bollywood – it’s about Anurag staying in the headlines, playing the eternal rebel who’s allergic to shutting up.
Earlier this year, Kashyap threw a hissy fit, swore he was “boycotting Bollywood,” and announced he was hightailing it to Dubai. So why’s he back, slinging mud at Hanuman? Could it be that this AI film, centered on a Hindu icon revered by a billion people, rubs his wannabe-rebel sensibilities the wrong way? Kashyap’s never hidden his disdain for what he sees as Bollywood’s pandering to certain narratives. Is his attack on Hanuman a veiled jab at Sanatan Dharma or Hindutva, dressed up as concern for the industry? For a guy who claims to be all about raw honesty, his targeting of a culturally resonant project feels like a cheap shot, less about AI and more about his own political hang-ups.
Kashyap could’ve sparked a real debate about AI in cinema. Technology’s shaking up filmmaking worldwide, and Bollywood’s no exception. Hanuman might disrupt jobs, sure, but it also pushes storytelling into bold new territory. Instead of wrestling with that nuance, Kashyap opts for his usual tantrum, painting a doomsday picture like some unwashed hippy preaching about the end times. It’s classic Anurag: why discuss when you can just yell? His attack on Hanuman isn’t a call to arms – it’s a desperate grab for relevance from a guy who can’t stop picking fights.
Let’s face it: Kashyap is less a cinematic prophet and more a professional irritant. He’s not out to fix Bollywood; he just loves the chaos. Whether it’s Netflix, Bhansali, Johar, or now an AI-driven Hanuman, he’s always got a new punching bag. But here’s the kicker: is anyone still buying his act? His critiques, once edgy, now sound like the ramblings of a cranky uncle who’s mad at everything. If he’s really done with Bollywood, why keep yapping? Is it the spotlight? The need to rebel? Or just a bad case of being Bollywood’s most frustrating character
Kashyap’s talent is undeniable. His films cut deep, exposing raw human truths. But his legacy’s drowning in his own noise. If he spent half as much energy making movies as he does whining, he might actually change the industry he loves to hate. For now, his attack on Hanuman is just another verse in his tired old song – one that’s starting to sound like a scratched record nobody’s playing anymore.
Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
