**Anurag Kashyap Says ‘Bandar’ Is Not About ‘MeToo’ or ‘MenToo’**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 4, 2025, 05:04 PM*
Anurag Kashyap’s latest film, *Bandar* (Monkey in a Cage), recently premiered at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The movie offers an unsettling exploration of the ripple effects of the #MeToo movement in digital-age India.
**Film’s Theme Born from Social Media Reaction**
Kashyap opened up about the inspiration behind this provocative film and its lead character, portrayed by Bobby Deol. Speaking to the Indian Express, he explained that *Bandar* emerged as a reaction to the rapid changes brought about by social media culture.
He said, “*Bandar* came out of a reaction to what’s happening on social media. Within minutes, people go viral. Similarly, within minutes, they are canceled. I was not trying to make a #Mentoo or #Metoo film. Sometimes people don’t realize what they are doing. Everyone deserves a chance to correct themselves.”
**A Commentary on India’s Broken Judicial System**
The story revolves around Samar (Bobby Deol), an aging television star accused of sexual assault by his former girlfriend, Gayatri (Sapna Pabbi). Kashyap emphasized that the film shines a light on the flaws of India’s judicial system.
“I wanted the film to highlight how broken our system is. Only 27 percent of rape cases are reported. In small towns and villages, such cases often go unreported,” he noted. According to Kashyap, the current laws were a “knee-jerk reaction” to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and are often misused to target affluent individuals.
**Director’s Insight on Casting Bobby Deol**
Describing the film as “a coming-of-age story of a man-child,” Kashyap explained that Samar doesn’t fully recognize his mistakes until almost the end of the movie. The director chose Bobby Deol for the role because he “understands what it is to be a loser.”
Currently, there is no official release date announced for *Bandar* in India. Fans eagerly await this thought-provoking film that promises to spark important conversations around social justice and accountability.
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