Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 8: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, whose last directorial venture was ‘Nishaanchi’, is back in the spotlight with his upcoming film ‘Bandar’, starring Bobby Deol, which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Early reactions to the film have been mixed, with some critics calling it provocative and others linking it to the #MeToo movement. Some have even labelled it ‘anti-MeToo’ and ‘pro-men’, prompting Kashyap to break his silence on the controversy.

In an interaction with Screen, Kashyap clarified, “It has nothing to do with MeToo. See, when a film is about a false rape accusation case, those conversations happen. But 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, so it has nothing to do with MeToo.”

Kashyap also spoke about the making of the film, revealing that he entrusted Sudip Sharma with the script due to the complexity of the subject. “I didn’t have the time to write the script. I felt it’s a very complex subject, very difficult, but only if Sudip Sharma agrees to write it, I would direct it. Fortunately, he agreed and that’s how it happened.”

‘Bandar’ also marks the first collaboration between Anurag Kashyap and Bobby Deol. Speaking to Mid-day earlier, Kashyap said, “The story is of a has-been. Bobby understands what failure means. He has lived through that and come back stronger. That’s why I knew he was perfect for this role.” He added that Bobby “completely surrendered” to his character, making him an ideal fit for the film.

The film continues to generate buzz internationally after its TIFF premiere, and audiences await its release amid the ongoing discussions surrounding its theme.