From director to actor, Anurag Kashyap's brave new role
The acclaimed filmmaker has gone from behind the camera to the front
Anurag Kashyap needs no introduction. As a filmmaker, his assertive expositions on rural violence ambushed the action genre long before Dhuarandhar. Lately, Anurag has gone from behind the camera to the front. Curiously, as an actor he is being offered only villainous parts and Anurag is happy being 'bad' on screen. Dacoit which opens on Friday features him as the archvillain, no less!
What was it like working with Adivi Sesh in Dacoit?
He is very sincere, about performance and getting it right. He will push himself and others till he has got it right. It was good for me because I didn’t know Telugu language and I did things I hadn’t done before.
Did you have to shoot tough action sequences?
Shooting action was tough for me. My physical limitations often gave me injury, added with the fact that I was playing a barefoot character called Swami. So running barefoot in slush, mud, rocks and road was hard. And I was not very fit. Which added its own character to Swami.
You mean a 'comical touch' to the evil?
Swami is not a meanie. He is an antagonist to the protagonists love story in a way, but not really the villain in the film. Swami is an idealist and a good cop.
You are primarily a director, so where does acting fit in?
I enjoy making films at any given time. Acting is more of a job that I have to do sincerely, but when I'm a director, I can throw myself in.
Now that you have moved from Mumbai to Bengaluru, are you more at peace with yourself?
Yes, I am more at peace and have more time to myself. I watch films more now, I read and write, and do things that normal people do.
So what and when will you direct next?
I haven’t decided what and when will be my next directorial. Not anytime soon. I want this time to pass. Let all the tentpole, blockbusters come and go and then decide what to do. The world is changing rapidly and so is cinema. Within this changing scenario, I need to find meaning in what I want to do and what should I do that can come out intact.
