Anurag Kashyap blames ZEE Studios for 'Kennedy' release delay
What's the story
Acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently spoke about Kennedy, starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone. The film, which is awaiting a release date, has already been greenlit by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), revealed Kashyap. Speaking to The Hindu, Kashyap said, "Kennedy is locked and has been cleared by the censors. But ZEE has lost a lot of money on recent films they released." "And all the people who produced the film have left the company," he added.
Character origin
Kashyap discussed the inspiration behind 'Kennedy'
Kashyap also revealed that the protagonist of Kennedy, an undercover cop named Uday Shetty, was based on a real-life cop in the Mumbai Police. The character was originally written for a script Kashyap had penned for Malayalam actor Mohanlal, with Rajeev Ravi directing. But when that didn't happen, Kashyap adapted the story for Kennedy.
Show pitch
Kashyap's streaming platform pitch was rejected
Further, the director revealed his failed attempt at pitching a show to a streaming platform. Despite the platform's initial interest, Kashyap felt their feedback was "too insecure and algorithm-based," which he believed would compromise the integrity of his show. He said, "I was pitching something else and they wanted to turn it into Money Heist. I folded my hands and left."
Project limbo
Kashyap's frustration over 'Kennedy' delay and future plans
Notably, Kashyap has previously voiced his frustration over the delay in Kennedy's release. He had revealed that as many as five of his projects are currently in limbo. Despite these setbacks, he is optimistic about a potential sequel web series to Kennedy where the character Uday Shetty survives the events of the film.