Kanu Behl’s most unsettling work yet...

What comes to your mind when you hear Agra? The eternal monument of love or the pagalkhana? Definitely the latter for filmmaker Kanu Behl, whose film Agra, after a successful international run at prestigious film festivals, has finally hit the theatres.The film, a bold and unsettling exploration of desire, repression and social taboos, marks the return of Aashiqui star Rahul Roy to the big screen alongside newcomer Mohit Agarwal (Guru) and Priyanka Bose (Priti).From Punjab to Mumbai“I grew up surrounded by theatre and fiction,” Behl said. His mother, a professor at Punjabi University’s Department of Theatre and Television, and his father, an NSD-trained actor, introduced him to the world of performing art early in life. “By 11 or 12, I was already assisting them on Doordarshan telefilms,” he recalled.After studying at SRFTI (Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute) and working on projects like Titli, Behl found his cinematic voice — one grounded in realism and psychological depth. “I’ve had a good journey,” he said with a smile. “Three feature films and a short in 10 years — pretty good for an outsider with no connections in Bollywood.”The genesis of AgraBehl began writing Agra after Titli, drawing inspiration from his own formative years in Delhi. “Growing up, I sensed a certain sexual repression — my inability to express oneself,” he said. “I realised many boys around me were going through the same thing, especially those living in cramped spaces, with no room or vocabulary to interact with the opposite sex.”This reflection became the seed for Agra, a story that delves into how unspoken desires and societal silence shape individuals. “We hear so much about sexual violence in India,” Behl explained. “But few try to understand why it happens. The real issue lies within the repressed emotional worlds of men — something we rarely explore empathetically, howsoever difficult that is.”What’s in the name?The film’s title, Behl revealed, carries layered meaning. “Everyone knows Agra for the Taj Mahal outside India, but in India, we also associate it with the mental asylum — Agra ka pagalkhana,” he said. “The film’s house felt like a madhouse — every character is lost in their own kind of madness. The protagonist might seem crazy, but perhaps he’s the sanest one among them.”Casting Rahul Roy and a newcomer“Rahul Roy cast himself in the role,” says Behl. “He joined the acting workshops without ego, worked tirelessly, and one evening told me, ‘Kanu, I’ll only do this character — no one else will,’” Behl shared. “That sincerity sealed it for me.”Newcomer Mohit Agarwal, who plays the central character, was discovered after extensive auditions. “He had to be someone who could do disturbing things on screen yet evoke empathy,” he said. As for Aanchal Goswami, “She was Chhavi from the moment I met her, just the right fit.”Agra’s festival runAgra premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by an award-winning festival run across the globe. “The festival journey helped the film gain visibility — it was crucial because we don’t have star power or a big marketing budget,” Behl said.After exploring streaming options, the team chose to release the film theatrically. “We made Agra for the big screen initially. Happy we circled back to this.” he affirmed.A film not about sex but desireAddressing the explicit nature of the film, Behl clarified, “It’s easy to misread Agra as a film about sex. But it’s really about desire — human desire and transactionality. We all navigate relationships that fall somewhere between these two poles.”He added, “We’ve not made this film through a titillating lens. It’s truthful, not exploitative. If someone chooses to see it as sleazy, that’s his/her interpretation — but that’s not the film’s truth.”Interpreting the film“It’s not a film about mental health,” Behl said firmly. “Labelling the protagonist ‘mad’ lets the audiences distance themselves from him. The harder thing is to empathise — to ask, ‘If I were him, what would I feel?’”“The ending isn’t happy,” he hinted. “There’s deep irony in how the same people who once condemned him come together for material gain. That’s the tragedy.”What’s next for Kanu Behl?While Behl remains tight-lipped about his upcoming projects, he shared that he’s working a French collaboration currently in early stages. “Too early to speak about, but it’s exciting,” he teased.For audiences ready to confront the raw, unsettling truths of desire, repression, and family dynamics, Agra hit cinemas across India on November 14.

Kanu Behl’s most unsettling work yet...

Rahul Roy's return in Agra that tackles repression, desire and society’s unseen struggles

Mona

Kanu Behl’s most unsettling work yet...

Rahul Roy's return in Agra that tackles repression, desire and society’s unseen struggles

Mona

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