Creative Burnout in Filmmaking
“I am moving out of Mumbai,” Kashyap stated firmly, citing the rising costs of filmmaking and an increasing emphasis on profitability over creativity as primary reasons for his discontent. “Now it is difficult for me to go out and experiment as it comes at a cost, which makes my producers think about profit and margins. Right from the beginning, before the film starts, it becomes about how to sell it. So, the joy of filmmaking is sucked out,” he lamented. Kashyap plans to relocate to the South, where he feels there is greater creative stimulation. “I want to go where there is stimulation. Otherwise, I will die as an old man. I am so disappointed and disgusted by my own industry,” he expressed.
Criticism of Talent Management Agencies
The director did not hold back when discussing talent management agencies, accusing them of exploiting young actors for profit while prioritizing stardom over genuine talent development. “Nobody wants to act—they all want to be stars. The agency won’t make anybody a star, but the moment someone becomes a star, the agency makes money off them. They will brainwash them and tell them what they need to do to become a star,” he explained, criticizing the focus on glamour over skill development.He recounted an incident involving an actor who distanced themselves based on agency advice but later returned seeking guidance after being abandoned by the agency. “This is what the agency does—they just make money off you. They aren’t invested in building new careers,” he added.
Disappointment with Friends and Peers
Kashyap also expressed disappointment with actors he once considered friends. “My actors, whom I thought of as friends, ghost you because they want to be a certain way. That happens mostly here; it doesn’t happen in Malayalam cinema,” he remarked. His disillusionment with the Hindi film industry stands in stark contrast to his recent experience in Malayalam cinema, where he made his acting debut in the film Rifle Club.
