Even as Anurag Kashyap’s Nishaanchi continues its theatrical run in India, the filmmaker has found himself in the middle of a new debate — this time over his upcoming film Bandar. The movie, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, has been described by critics as provocative, polarising, and in some cases, even “anti-MeToo."

The conversation began soon after the premiere, attended by Kashyap and the film’s lead actor Bobby Deol, who is collaborating with the director for the first time. While several praised Bandar for its daring storytelling, others criticised it for what they perceived as a problematic stance.

In an interview with SCREEN, Anurag Kashyap directly addressed the growing chatter and clarified what Bandar is — and isn’t — about.

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