Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has publicly distanced himself from the theatrical version of his film Bandar, starring Bobby Deol. In a recent conversation, Kashyap revealed that the version audiences saw in theatres was not the one he had originally envisioned.
Anurag Kashyap says Bandar's theatrical release was not his final cut
During a candid discussion with comedian Kunal Kamra, Kashyap explained why he chose to stay silent after the film's release. According to Hindustan Times, Kashyap admitted that he did not feel comfortable defending a project that no longer reflected his intended vision.
"When I said don't watch, it's because I can't own up… If you noticed, I didn't give any interviews on the film. Because whatever came out is not my final cut," Kashyap said, as reported by The Times of India.
Kashyap addresses criticism and creative compromises
The filmmaker also spoke about the criticism the film received. According to The Indian Express, Kashyap said the criticism was "valid." He explained that the version released was a result of creative compromises, which led him to deliberately avoid responding to any negative feedback.
Kashyap's comments shed light on the broader issue of corporatisation in filmmaking and how it can affect a director's original vision. He chose not to defend the film because he could not stand behind a version that was not his own.
"Whatever came out is not my final cut. So, the criticism was valid." — Anurag Kashyap, as quoted by Bollywood Hungama
Our Take: A director's honesty about creative control
In our view, Anurag Kashyap's decision to distance himself from Bandar is a rare moment of honesty in an industry where directors often have to defend projects they are not fully satisfied with. By openly stating that the released version was not his final cut, Kashyap has drawn attention to the real struggles filmmakers face when creative control is taken away.
His silence after the film's release now makes complete sense. Instead of defending something he did not believe in, he chose to let the work speak for itself — even if that meant accepting criticism. This is a lesson for audiences: not every film that reaches the screen is the director's true vision.
For fans of Kashyap and Bobby Deol, this explains why Bandar may have felt different from what was expected. It also raises questions about how much of a director's original work survives the journey from script to screen.
