Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has opened up about a shelved project with Netflix India and a later pitch described as the “Money Heist of India.”

In a candid reflection, he spoke about creative frustrations, rushed timelines, and the emotional toll the experience took on him.

Kashyap revealed that he had spent a significant amount of time developing an adaptation of Maximum City by Suketu Mehta.

The project, however, did not move forward. Kashyap shared that he prefers writing scripts by hand and had deeply invested himself in shaping the material.

According to him, the lack of clear communication about the project’s status made the situation particularly difficult to handle.

Rushed timelines

After the adaptation was shelved, Kashyap said he was approached with other ideas. However, he felt the timelines were too tight for meaningful development.

The filmmaker explained that he needs adequate time to refine his material and ultimately chose not to proceed under rushed conditions.

Kashyap also spoke about another pilot script he had written, which was initially well received by the team.

Later, he was asked whether the concept could be reshaped into something resembling a large-scale heist drama — described to him as the “Money Heist of India,” a reference to the globally popular Spanish series Money Heist.

At that stage, Kashyap decided to step away from the project.

Personal impact and therapy

The filmmaker admitted that the setback had a personal impact on him. He sought therapy during that period and also dealt with health issues.

He described the experience as emotionally heavy, underscoring the pressures that can come with high-stakes creative collaborations.

Amid these revelations, Kashyap’s film Kennedy was set to release on February 20 on a streaming platform.

While past projects may not have materialized as planned, Kashyap continues to focus on his filmmaking journey.