Rahul Bhat Reveals Karmic Bond with Anurag Kashyap, Calls 'Kennedy' a Dark Masterpiece
From his breakout role in 'Ugly' to the delayed but highly anticipated 'Kennedy', actor Rahul Bhat says his partnership with acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap is built on a foundation of pure trust and a profound, almost spiritual connection. Bhat, who transitioned from a 1990s television heartthrob on 'Heena' to a powerhouse performer in films like 'Section 375' and OTT series 'Black Warrant', opened up about this unique cinematic alliance in a recent interview.
A Partnership Forged in Trust and Karma
Bhat described his relationship with Kashyap as 'very karmic', suggesting a bond that transcends their professional collaborations. 'Something is very strong between us, I feel that I know him from some past life. We have, in fact, spoken about it, that it's a very strange relationship, we have a very strong bond,' the actor revealed. After working together on three films, their mutual understanding has deepened significantly.
'I trust him a lot as a director and I know I'm in such expert and good hands. It's like when you are flying with a good pilot, you feel you are in good hands, you've to trust the pilot to take you,' Bhat explained, drawing an analogy to emphasize his complete faith in Kashyap's vision and direction.
Praising the Director's Humanity and Craft
Heaping praise on Kashyap, Bhat highlighted that the director's exceptional filmmaking stems from his character as a human being. 'He is not only an incredible director but an amazing human being and that's something I believe reflects in his films,' Bhat stated. He elaborated that creating compelling narratives requires genuine empathy and insight.
'If you are not a good human being, you cannot come out with such interesting ideas, amazing stories, so many circumstances and understanding the human empathy, sympathising with certain characters and also telling the truth at the same time. It's not an easy job,' Bhat added, crediting Kashyap's personal integrity for the depth of his cinematic work.
'Kennedy': A Dark Evolution from 'Ugly'
Bhat garnered widespread acclaim for his role in Kashyap's 2013 thriller 'Ugly', where he played a struggling actor searching for his missing daughter. However, he believes their latest project, 'Kennedy', represents a significant leap forward in terms of narrative darkness and intensity.
In the film, which is finally set to release on ZEE5 on February 20 after a three-year delay, Bhat plays the titular role of Uday Shetty, an insomniac former cop who moonlights as a contract killer while seeking redemption within a corrupt system.
'Kennedy' is 'Ugly' on steroids. 'Ugly' is nothing in front of what 'Kennedy' is, 'Ugly' is Kennedy's child, and that Rahul Varshney of 'Ugly' is not close to Uday Shetty,' Bhat declared emphatically. 'Uday Shetty will pick him up and throw him somewhere, in terms of everything, emotions, depression, the kind of darkness, and every catharsis that Kennedy has gone through. The 'Ugly' character is like a chutku (baby) in front of him.'
Extreme Preparation and Personal Catharsis
To authentically portray an insomniac ex-cop, Bhat pushed himself to physical and mental extremes. He revealed that he remained awake for more than a week and worked grueling 15 to 16-hour days to get into the skin of his character. The actor and director were both navigating personal issues during the film's production, and 'Kennedy' became a powerful outlet for their collective pain and anger.
Bhat recalled a particularly demanding sequence filmed before the climax, where his sleep deprivation was leveraged for raw authenticity. 'I had not slept for at least 10 days for that scene. I was so sleepy when that scene was happening, I was like, 'Oh God. Am I going to fall asleep?' I was struggling but the whole thing really worked out,' he shared. 'When you are doing something good, God also conspires to make it happen, and it happened somehow. I don't think we could have made this film now.'
He described being the first on set and the last to leave, sometimes being immediately taken in a camera car after pack-up so Kashyap could capture his genuine, exhausted state for driving scenes.
Future Hopes and Industry Recognition
Following 'Kennedy's' international acclaim at prestigious festivals like Cannes, Bhat is optimistic about his future in the evolving film industry. 'With the kind of cinema that is happening right now, I think I'll have good chances but these things are not in my hands,' he said pragmatically.
'Every time I go on set, I tell myself, this is my best and I've to outdo myself as that is in my hands. But what will happen tomorrow, whether directors will get interested in me and say, 'Oh my God, he's a good actor' or producers will say, 'Let's take him', that is up to them, God, and destiny. But what happens in life is destiny, and how it happens is effort.'
Also starring Sunny Leone, Mohit Takalkar, and Abhilash Thapliyal, 'Kennedy' promises to be a dark, intense exploration of redemption and corruption, marking the latest chapter in the deeply trusted partnership between Rahul Bhat and Anurag Kashyap.
