Anurag Kashyap Departs Mumbai, Citing Bollywood’s ‘Toxic’ Obsession with Box Office Numbers

Renowned filmmaker relocates to South India, expressing discontent with industry’s creative decline.

Veteran filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, celebrated for his groundbreaking work in Indian cinema, has officially left Mumbai, attributing his departure to a growing dissatisfaction with the current state of Bollywood. In a candid interview with The Hindu, Kashyap revealed his reasons for relocating, stating, “I want to stay away from film people. The industry has become too toxic. Everyone is chasing unrealistic targets, trying to make the next ₹500 or ₹800 crore film. The creative atmosphere is gone.”

While Kashyap has not publicly disclosed his new residence, sources close to the filmmaker suggest he has moved to Bengaluru. This move aligns with his previously expressed admiration for South Indian cinema, where he believes filmmakers have greater freedom to experiment and prioritize storytelling over commercial pressures. In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Kashyap lamented the diminishing joy in Bollywood filmmaking, attributing it to escalating costs and a profit-centric mindset. He commented, “Now it is difficult for me to go out and experiment as it comes at a cost, which makes my producers think about profit and margins. Right from the beginning, before the film starts, it becomes about how to sell it. So, the joy of filmmaking is sucked out.”

Kashyap’s departure underscores a broader conversation about the evolving dynamics of the Hindi film industry, highlighting concerns over creativity being overshadowed by box office pursuits.