In a move that has shocked many within the Indian film fraternity, renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has announced that he will be charging for meetings, expressing his frustration over time wasted with individuals who, in his view, fall short of their creative proclamations.
An impassioned message posted on his Instagram account makes clear his stance on the matter. An exasperated Kashyap stated, “I don’t want to waste my time with meeting random people who think they’re creative geniuses. So I will now have rates.”
This announcement immediately signifies a bold new policy by the director, who has long been lauded for his distinctive directorial style and, more recently, his foray into acting with notable success. Anurag Kashyap’s direction and storytelling have set a benchmark in contemporary Indian cinema with his unconventional approach often leaving a lasting impact on audiences and critics alike.
“I wasted a lot of time trying to help newcomers and mostly ended up with mediocre sh*t,” Kashyap lamented in his post. To quantify the value of his time, Kashyap elaborated on his rate card: a 10-15 minute meet-up would carry a price tag of Rs 1 lakh, escalating to Rs 2 lakhs for a half-hour and a hefty 5 lakhs for a full hour-long meeting. He further underlines the seriousness of this policy, instructing prospective collaborators to pay in advance if they wish to garner his attention, punctuating his point with, “If you really think you can afford it, call me or stay the f**k away.”
Matching his directness in the post itself, Anurag’s Instagram caption was equally straightforward, “And I mean it. Don’t text or dm or call me. Pay and you will get time. I am not a charity and I am tired of people looking for shortcuts.”
On the creative front, Anurag Kashyap’s recent endeavors showcase his versatile talents crossing boundaries from direction to acting. Audiences applauded his captivating performance as the main villain in Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s ‘Haddi’. His acting chops were also on display in the Tamil film ‘Leo’, featuring alongside Vijay and Trisha. Kashyap is slated to appear in the upcoming Tamil film ‘One 2 One’.
Nonetheless, his directorial genius remains his core identity. His latest film, ‘Kennedy’, which premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and made appearances at the Sydney Film Festival and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, stars the vibrant Sunny Leone and has added yet another laurel to his already illustrious cap.
Kashyap is now set to join forces with actress Saiyami Kher in an upcoming project, rekindling their professional relationship from the critically acclaimed film ‘Choked’. Moreover, fans can anticipate seeing him opposite Gulshan Devaiah in an untitled action series based on ‘Bad Cop: Kriminell’. This series, a brainchild of creators Rensil D’Silva and Hussain Dalal and directed by Aditya Datt, promises to plunge into the dark undercurrents of Mumbai’s underworld.
While Anurag Kashyap’s decision to monetize his time may be seen as controversial by many, it stands as a clear message to the industry: his time and expertise are valuable assets not to be taken lightly. As the director continues to push the envelope in his craft, it remains to be seen how this new approach to professional meetings will impact his interactions with aspirants and colleagues in the vibrant world of Indian cinema.
