Anurag Kashyap Reveals Why Kennedy Remains Unreleased and His Struggles with the Industry

Acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has revealed that his much-anticipated film Kennedy remains unreleased, despite its premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. In a candid interview, Kashyap disclosed that five of his projects are currently stuck in limbo, adding that he has emotionally detached himself from Kennedy.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Kashyap expressed his disillusionment with the film industry, describing a creative landscape driven by profit rather than artistry. “I have made five films that are lying unreleased. Where is Kennedy? And whose hands is Kennedy in? It’s in the hands of some people who’ve never made films before. People who made Kennedy in the studio are all gone. And now, the people who are there, the directive given to them is to up the share prices, generate profits, cost recovery… That’s all there is. Nobody is interested in films. It doesn’t matter if Kennedy went to Cannes; it doesn’t matter if it had such a massive reception at festivals. Forget outside India, they’ve seen the reception in India, but where is the film?”

Kashyap criticized the industry's growing aversion to risk and its focus on creating cinematic universes rather than supporting filmmakers. “They don’t understand anything. They can’t even make a Pushpa. They cannot, because they don’t have the brains to make a film. They don’t understand what filmmaking is. Pushpa can only be made by Sukumar. In the South, they invest in filmmakers and empower them to make films. Here, everyone is trying to create a universe. Do they understand their own universe, and how miniscule they are in it? That’s the ego. When you create a universe, you think you’re God.”

Reflecting on his unreleased projects, Kashyap shared how he has learned to cope. “I’ve detached myself from Kennedy, because I don’t want it to become like Black Friday. I will not let anything pull me down again in life…” On whether he harbors bitterness, Kashyap said, “No, I feel disappointed, but that’s how it is. I’m very disgusted by some people, but let them be. I’ve had my fights, but you can’t fight a wall. I don’t have the energy…”

Kashyap also revisited the emotional toll of Netflix’s decision to cancel his series adaptation of Maximum City. Speaking to The Washington Post, he described the period as one of profound personal and professional upheaval. “Maximum City was where all my energy went. I was heartbroken. I totally lost it,” he said, recounting how the cancellation led to depression, two heart attacks, and reliance on alcohol for solace.

The filmmaker has since expressed a desire to leave Mumbai, citing a growing “disgust” with his surroundings. “I’m very disgusted by what I’m seeing around me,” he remarked, underscoring his frustration with the current state of the film industry.