Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has never shied away from speaking his mind, especially when it comes to censorship and creative freedom. In a recent interview, the director reflected on how drastically the filmmaking landscape has changed over the past decade, admitting that even he is no longer able to make the kind of films that once defined his career.Addressing frequent questions about why he doesn’t return to films like Ugly, Dev.D or Gangs of Wasseypur, Kashyap was blunt.“Today, when I make films, I get things like, why don’t I make a film like Ugly, or Dev.D, or even Gangs of Wasseypur. The thing is, I can’t make it. It won’t pass. It won’t clear the censors,” he told Galatta Plus.Pointing to broader changes in the ecosystem, he added, “The political scenario has changed. Censorship has changed. Everything has changed. Plus, it’s being run by corporates. Everything is being run by people who don’t have skin in the game.”
‘Producers in the South have skin in the game’
Kashyap also drew a sharp contrast between Hindi cinema and the southern film industries, crediting the latter for their consistent innovation.“Why Tamil cinema is great? Why is Malayalam cinema great? Why is Telugu cinema also constantly innovating?” he asked, before clarifying that he wasn’t referring to big-budget spectacles.“I’m talking about new, low-budget films like The Girlfriend, Court: State vs. a Nobody. They’re low-budget, right? Why are they flying? It’s because the producer has skin in the game. It’s the old school, where people invested in cinema are producing films. This is not true in Hindi cinema.”
Why Anurag Kashyap can’t direct Shah Rukh Khan
When asked whether he would ever consider directing Shah Rukh Khan, Kashyap didn’t mince words.“No, I can’t. Because his fan base is huge. Even if he agrees to adhere to my sensibilities, I still can’t do it,” he said, adding with characteristic candour, “When there is a massive fan base, if you disappoint them, they will murder the director.” Anurag Kashyap is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Bandar, starring Bobby Deol. The film recently had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
