Anurag Kashyap on why he can’t make films like Gangs of Wasseypur anymore: ‘The political scenario has changed...’

Anurag Kashyap talks about not doing movies like Gangs of Wasseypur anymore

For years, Anurag Kashyap was the filmmaker audiences turned to when Hindi cinema needed to be shaken awake. His films were rough, unsettling and fearless, often forcing viewers to confront realities they would rather ignore.

Today, however, the director admits that the industry which once allowed such stories to exist has changed so drastically that returning to that kind of cinema feels impossible.

In a recent conversation with Galatta Plus, Anurag Kashyap spoke with rare honesty about why he no longer makes films like Ugly, Dev.D or Gangs of Wasseypur.

He said people still approach him with the same question, assuming it is a matter of choice. For him, it is not. He believes the system simply will not allow such films to be made anymore.

“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. 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," he said.

There was a time, Anurag Kashyap recalled, when filmmakers stood shoulder to shoulder to fight censorship. He pointed to the battle around Udta Punjab as a moment of collective resistance, when creative voices refused to back down.

According to him, that sense of solidarity has faded, leaving filmmakers far more cautious and isolated.

Looking beyond Hindi cinema, Anurag Kashyap spoke with admiration about southern film industries, which he feels continue to support bold, low-budget storytelling. He believes the difference lies in who is backing the films.

“Why Tamil cinema is great? Why is Malayalam cinema great? Why is Telugu cinema also constantly innovating? They also have these new, low-budget films, I’m not talking about the big ones. I’m talking about films like The Girlfriend, Court: State vs. a Nobody types of films. They’re low-budget, right? Why are they flying? I’m saying 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."

Also Read: Anurag Kashyap on Nishaanchi’s poor box office run: ‘I am used to it’

Anurag Kashyap was also asked about a collaboration many fans have long dreamed of — directing Shah Rukh Khan. His response was candid and almost weary.

“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, because what happens is, when there is a massive fan base, if you disappoint them, they will murder the director."