Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has delivered a scathing critique of Bollywood’s creative stagnation, stating that the Hindi film industry lacks the vision to produce a film like the Telugu blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise or its sequel Pushpa 2: The Rule.

In an interview, Kashyap lamented the industry's inability to take risks and invest in meaningful filmmaking. “Bollywood doesn’t understand filmmaking. They can’t even make a Pushpa because they don’t have the brains. They don’t invest in filmmakers. In the South, they empower filmmakers like Sukumar, who made Pushpa. Here, everyone is obsessed with creating ‘universes.’ Do they even understand their place in the universe they’re creating? It’s all ego-driven,” Kashyap said.

Directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, Pushpa 2: The Rule has set the global box office ablaze, earning over $211.2 million and climbing toward becoming the second-highest-grossing Indian film ever.

The movie’s raw storytelling and strong characters stand in stark contrast to the formulaic attempts dominating Bollywood, Kashyap noted.

Kashyap also aimed at the growing studio-driven model in Indian cinema, which he says stifles creativity. Using his own film, Kennedy, as an example, he shared frustrations about its struggle for an Indian release despite receiving accolades at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

“I’ve detached myself from Kennedy. I won’t let it drag me down like Black Friday did. This system doesn’t allow for creative freedom,” he remarked.

Kennedy, starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, has garnered critical acclaim at international festivals but remains unreleased in India. Since its Cannes premiere, Kashyap has focused on acting, appearing in films like Leo, Maharaja, and Viduthalai Part 2.