By: Entertainment DeskMumbai | October 7, 2025 02:30 PM IST 3 min readEven as Anurag Kashyap’s latest film Nishaanchi plays in theatres across India, the filmmaker is already making international headlines with his upcoming project Bandar, which recently had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).The premiere saw the presence of the film’s principal cast and crew, including Bobby Deol, who is working with Kashyap for the first time. Early reviews from the festival have described Bandar as a highly provocative film, with some critics interpreting its narrative as controversial, particularly in relation to the #MeToo movement. In fact, a few have even gone so far as to suggest that the movie might be read as “anti-MeToo.” This has led to some backlash online, with several netizens questioning the merit of the film and calling it “pro-men.”However, in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Anurag Kashyap addressed the speculation head-on and clarified the film’s intent and themes. “It has nothing to do with MeToo. See when a film is about a false rape accusation case, those conversations happen. But MeToo is about power, somebody using a position of power, to do something. This film has nothing to do with that kind of a powerplay, or that kind of sexual angle, so it has nothing to do with MeToo.”Story continues below this adWatch | In conversation with Anurag KashyapAlso Read | In Nishaanchi, Mehboob Khan meets Yash Chopra, as Anurag Kashyap takes a detour into melodrama Kashyap also shared insights into how the screenplay came to life, revealing that acclaimed screenwriter Sudip Sharma, known for Udta Punjab, Sonchiriya, Paatal Lok, and Kohrra, was his first and only choice for the complex subject matter. “So I didn’t have the time to write the script. And, I was of the opinion it’s a very complex subject, very difficult, but only if Sudip Sharma agrees to write it is only when I’ll direct it. And he fortunately agreed and that’s how it happened.”While there is currently no official word on when Bandar will release in India, Anurag Kashyap isn’t slowing down. He’s already preparing for the release of Nishaanchi Part 2, the sequel to his current theatrical release. The film stars Aaishvary Thackeray, Vedika Pinto, Monika Panwar, Kumud Mishra, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in leading roles.Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Anurag KashyapBobby Deol