In the world of cinema, acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap had previously heaped praise upon fellow filmmaker Karan Johar for his acting prowess displayed in the film “Bombay Velvet.” However, the grand expectations for the movie were met with disappointment at the box office, leading to its categorization as a cinematic disaster. In a candid interview with Indian Express, Karan Johar himself candidly acknowledged that his acting career had reached its conclusion following the release of “Bombay Velvet,” and furthermore, his own production powerhouse, Dharma Productions, had made the decision to exclude him from future movie casts.
Yet, in a recent turn of events, Anurag Kashyap, known for his unfiltered honesty, once again found himself effusive in his admiration for Karan Johar. During an interview with Indian Express, he reiterated, “Karan was amazing in ‘Bombay Velvet.’ I will maintain that his performance in ‘Bombay Velvet’ was unbelievably amazing. Woh Karan mazak me bolta hai (He was joking),” playfully responding to Johar’s comments regarding the direction of his acting career.
In a prior interview with The Times of India earlier in the year, Anurag Kashyap staunchly defended his choice to cast the effervescent filmmaker in “Bombay Velvet.” While defending the decision, he conceded, “Karan didn’t let me down; I let him down.”
Reflecting upon the first-year anniversary of the film’s release, Anurag openly acknowledged his own shortcomings and the pivotal role he played in the film’s fate. He lamented, “When a film fails, it is 100 per cent the director’s fault. If ‘Bombay Velvet’ didn’t work, it is entirely my fault. The director is the only one who has the power to say no,” while recognizing that there were crucial junctures where he failed to assert his creative vision.
In sum, Anurag Kashyap’s retrospective assessment demonstrated humility and self-awareness, as he conceded that the ultimate responsibility for a film’s outcome rests with the director, a realization he wished he had embraced more effectively during the creation of “Bombay Velvet.” He concluded by emphasizing the collaborative nature of filmmaking, highlighting that success is a collective achievement while acknowledging his role in the film’s outcome.