Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has opened up about the significant criticism he faced for collaborating with Karan Johar on the 2015 period drama Bombay Velvet. In a candid conversation, Kashyap revealed that a section of his audience viewed the partnership as a betrayal, with many believing his creative decline started from that point.
The 'Sell Out' Backlash
Speaking exclusively, Kashyap addressed the perception that he and Johar were cinematic rivals from opposite ends of the spectrum. "People saw me and Karan as rivals, as two different ends of a spectrum," he stated. The decision to cast Johar as the flamboyant Parsi antagonist, Kaizad Khambatta, was met with disappointment from his core followers.
"A lot of those who used to follow my work felt that I had sold out, that I was making a film with a star and with Karan Johar involved," Kashyap explained. This narrative, according to him, became entrenched and persists to this day. "Even now, people say that my downfall happened because I 'shook hands' with Karan. And I'm like, what do you mean by shaking hands? We did a film together," he added, reflecting on the lasting impact of that perception.
A Natural Casting Choice & Strained Relationships
Despite the controversy, Kashyap stood by his casting decision, calling it a natural fit. He was highly impressed by Johar's acting abilities in the role. "He was very natural for the role. He doesn't believe it, but I think he was fantastic with what he did there. But unfortunately, the film didn't work," Kashyap remarked.
The commercial failure of Bombay Velvet, which released on May 15, 2015, had wider repercussions, notably affecting Kashyap's relationship with the film's lead actor, Ranbir Kapoor. Kashyap disclosed that Kapoor was upset with the director's continued public discussion of the failed project.
"I think Ranbir was very upset... he keeps saying, 'Why do you keep talking about Bombay Velvet? Just ignore it. The film didn't work, it didn't work, but you don't have to talk about it all the time,'" Kashyap shared. However, he defended himself by pointing out that journalists consistently ask him about it.
The Aftermath and Moving On
The period following the film's release was particularly difficult for Kashyap. He admitted to struggling with facing his collaborators, who had placed their trust in him. "At the beginning, I just didn't know how to face them because they had given me a lot of trust and love. And I was dealing with my own demons," he confessed.
His path to recovery involved channeling his energy into a smaller, more personal project. "So I needed to come out of that and make a very small film. I was very focused on Raman Raghav," he said, referring to his 2016 film Raman Raghav 2.0. Over time, however, the experience created a distance between him and some of the Bombay Velvet team. "But slowly, I think, we became distant," he concluded, highlighting the long-term personal cost of the film's failure.
