‘People Focus More on Showing Off’: Anurag Kashyap on Cannes Culture in India

It is quite usual to find Anurag Kashyap making headlines because of his outspoken nature. He recently made some candid remarks regarding India's participation at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Some of the films directed by Anurag include Black Friday and Gangs of Wasseypur.

Speaking to film critic Sucharita Tyagi, Anurag Kashyap said that in India, major events like Cannes are now mostly seen as a "red-carpet spectacle" rather than a serious platform for cinema. According to him, the true essence of Cannes often gets lost in the glamorous noise.

Anurag Kashyap said, "The biggest problem and obsession with Cannes in India is simply walking the red carpet. In reality, the festival is about watching films, meeting filmmakers, and interacting with distributors—conversations that determine the future of cinema."

Anurag Kashyap also said that in India, people are mostly focused on showing off and gaining publicity, rather than having meaningful conversations about the industry. He questioned whether Indian cinema is truly sending the right people to such global platforms, especially those who can help Indian films gain international recognition.

According to him, simply celebrating one's presence without building a network or audience abroad does not benefit Indian films in the long run.

He also explained that during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, despite watching several films every day, he prefers to remain low-key and avoid the limelight. When asked why they are not seen much at the festival, they said, 'We go by the side.'