Anurag Kashyap critiques Bollywood’s formula films, calls for institutional support for independent cinema

Director Anurag Kashyap addressing the gathering during the Chaaya Literature Festival at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University in Hyderabad, on Saturday, November 14, 2026.

| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR “Everything is becoming about what works and what doesn’t work,” filmmaker Anurag Kashyap said, reflecting on the changing nature of Indian cinema and the growing influence of commercial considerations on filmmaking. He was speaking on day 1 of the two-day Chaaya Literature Festival at Dr. B.R.

Ambedkar Open University on Saturday. Kashyap discussed the challenges facing independent cinema, the influence of literature on his work and his experiences as a writer and filmmaker. Comparing contemporary Bollywood to a fast-food franchise, he said, “Contemporary Bollywood is like a franchise of McDonald’s.” He argued that algorithms and market calculations were increasingly determining the kind of films being made, leaving less room for experimentation and unconventional storytelling.