Anurag Kashyap Recalls Sushant Singh Rajput as His First Pick for “Nishaanchi” — Project Fell Apart After Dharma Deals

As Nishaanchi nears release, Anurag Kashyap reveals the film was initially announced with Sushant Singh Rajput in 2016, but the actor stopped responding after landing two big Dharma Productions films, forcing Kashyap to move on with a new cast.

As the release of his next film Nishaanchi approaches, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has shared a striking revelation about its origins. In a recent interview, he revealed that the late Sushant Singh Rajput was once his first choice for the film.

Kashyap explained that he had announced the project with Sushant back in 2016, but plans shifted after the actor bagged two high-profile films with Dharma Productions — Dil Bechara and Drive. With those projects moving forward, Kashyap’s film was pushed aside, and communication with Sushant eventually broke down. “He stopped responding, so I moved away,” the director said.

This was not the first time their paths had diverged. Kashyap recalled how Sushant had also backed out of Hasee Toh Phasee, which was being produced under his banner, after receiving Shuddh Desi Romance from Yash Raj Films. “He wanted YRF’s validation,” Kashyap noted, while clarifying that he bore no grudges.

This was not the first time their paths had diverged. Kashyap recalled how Sushant had also backed out of Hasee Toh Phasee, which was being produced under his banner, after receiving Shuddh Desi Romance from Yash Raj Films. “He wanted YRF’s validation,” Kashyap noted, while clarifying that he bore no grudges.

The director also recounted how, just before the release of MS Dhoni: The Untold Story in 2016, casting director Mukesh Chhabra approached Sushant again on his behalf with Nishaanchi. However, after Dhoni became a blockbuster, Sushant never got back to him. Kashyap then chose to move forward with other projects like Mukkabaaz.

Now, Nishaanchi is finally taking shape with a new ensemble cast, including Aaishvary Thackeray, Monika Panwar, Vedika Pinto, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Kumud Mishra. Co-written by Kashyap with Ranjan Chandel and Prasoon Mishra, the film is set to release on September 19, 2025, promising a gritty and intense crime drama in Kashyap’s signature style.