‘Hate being an icon’

Anurag Kashyap speaks to NIKITA WADHAWAN about his disdain of being a role-model for young filmmakers and more

While there are some filmmakers who love being an idol for aspiring filmmakers, Anurag Kashyap disgusts that tag. “I hate being an icon, the problem is that they look up to me. Why can’t they just let me be? Too many expectations kill me, I would rather be a filmmaker jise se koi expectations nahi hai. No matter how hard I try and how good a film is, they will always compare it to ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’,” retorts Anurag.

The 45-year-old filmmaker wants to move on from one of his iconic films and wishes people don’t expect a Gang… finale for his next film

Mukkabaaz as well. “I don’t care about comparison; the film is talking about what all is wrong with sports today. If that Tommy gun finale makes a film then Bombay Velvet should have been a super hit,” dismisses Anurag.

Mukkabaaz starring Vineet Kumar Singh, Zoya Hussain, Jimmy Shergill and Ravi Kishan is a love story of a boxer Shravan (Vineet) who falls for a local Don’s (Jimmy Shergill) niece Sunaina (Zoya Hussain) and strives to win Sunaina’s hand in marriage by becoming a successful boxer while trying to avoid retaliation from the Don. Zoya’s character in the film is mute, but can hear, a scientific disparity. “Zoya’s character symbolises that a woman has a lot to say, but she can’t due to the society. Scientifically speaking a person who can’t hear can’t speak, but she can hear perfectly well, but can’t speak,” clarifies Anurag.

After Mukkabaaz, Anurag will complete his last schedule of web series

Sacred Games, start post production for Bombay Talkies 2

and start shooting for Manmarziyan. Anurag is one of the few filmmakers in Bollywood who still continues making short films. “I have directed two more short films, one is for Bombay talkies and one more. Love and Lust is the name of my film for

Bombay Talkies. I love exploring sexuality, for me you don’t need to show sex for that. We are an Indian society and sexuality is explored in various forms that is what my film is all about,” divulges Anurag.

The acclaimed filmmaker has also dabbled with a little onscreen glamour. He has completed shooting thriller drama Imaikkaa Nodigal, which marks his Tamil on-screen debut. “Acting and producing never something that I will do because I want to do, only because some people force me to do it. They made do so much action, that also at this age. I liked it but it was very tiring. I don’t know how people will react will have to wait and watch. Everybody wants me to act, but I will act only if someone pays me obscene amount of money,” he says.

Another project, which Anurag Kashyap had previously announced was a film on the Indian comic superhero — Doga. The 45-year-old had announced a film on the superhero, almost a decade ago, in 2008. But, apart from casting Kunal Kapoor in the titular role, there wasn’t any development in the project. Kashyap says that he is no longer a part of the project.“I have relinquished my rights to Doga. They wanted to be Marvel comics without doing what Marvel does. They don’t understand how things work, after me they went to Ranveer Singh, then to YRF and they all refused. We can never make a Marvel, even DC can’t make a Marvel. They have a power of the English language that can be understood in almost every country which gives them bigger revenue and bigger budget. We don’t even have that many cinema halls. Why do you think that suddenly revenue for china has increased, it is because they have increased their theatres and screens,” he concludes.