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Anurag Kashyap says ‘Bandar’ not about ‘MeToo’ or ‘MenToo’

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**Anurag Kashyap Says ‘Bandar’ Is Not About ‘MeToo’ or ‘MenToo’**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 04, 2025, 05:04 PM*

Anurag Kashyap’s latest film, *Bandar* (Monkey in a Cage), was recently showcased at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film is an unsettling exploration of the ripple effects of the #MeToo movement in digital-age India.

Kashyap opened up about the inspiration behind this provocative film and its lead character, played by Bobby Deol.

### The Inspiration Behind Bandar

Kashyap explained that *Bandar* emerged as a reaction to the rapid changes brought about by social media. He told the Indian Express, “*Bandar* came out of a reaction to what’s happening on social media. Within minutes, people go viral. Similarly, within minutes, they are canceled.”

He emphasized that he was not trying to make a film about #MenToo or #MeToo. “Sometimes people don’t realize what they are doing. Everyone deserves a chance to correct themselves,” Kashyap added.

### A Social Commentary on India’s Judicial System

The movie centers around Samar (played by Bobby Deol), an aging television star who is accused of sexual assault by his former girlfriend, Gayatri (played by Sapna Pabbi).

Kashyap said, “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 also expressed concern that the current laws were a “knee-jerk reaction” to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and alleged that these laws are being misused to target “moneyed people.”

### Director’s Insight on Casting Bobby Deol

When asked why he chose Bobby Deol for the lead role, Kashyap described *Bandar* as “a coming-of-age story of a man-child” who doesn’t realize his mistakes until almost the end.

He said, “Bobby understands what it is to be a loser,” making him the perfect fit for the character of Samar.

### Release Details

As of now, there is no official release date for *Bandar* in India. Fans await further updates on when the film will be available for viewing.

—

*Bandar* promises to be a compelling look at the complexities of justice and accountability in contemporary India—through the lens of media, social perceptions, and the flawed legal system.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/anurag-kashyap-talks-about-bandar/story

bollywood, culture, entertainment, film, movies

Anurag Kashyap says ‘Bandar’ not about ‘MeToo’ or ‘MenToo’

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**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.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/anurag-kashyap-talks-about-bandar/story

bollywood, culture, entertainment, film, movies

Anurag Kashyap says ‘Bandar’ not about ‘MeToo’ or ‘MenToo’

Leave a comment

**Anurag Kashyap Says ‘Bandar’ Is Not About ‘#MeToo’ or ‘MenToo’**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 04, 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 delves into the unsettling ripple effects of the #MeToo movement in digital-age India. Kashyap shared insights about the inspiration behind this provocative film and its lead character, portrayed by Bobby Deol.

**A Reaction to Social Media’s Rapid Changes**

Kashyap revealed that *Bandar* was born out of his reaction to the swift transformations ushered in by social media. Speaking to the Indian Express, he explained, “*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.”

**Highlighting India’s Broken Judicial System**

The film centers around Samar (Bobby Deol), an aging television star accused of sexual assault by his former girlfriend, Gayatri (Sapna Pabbi). Kashyap emphasized his intention to spotlight the deep flaws in India’s judicial system, stating, “Only 27 percent of rape cases are reported. In small towns and villages, such cases often go unreported.”

He also noted that the current laws were a “knee-jerk reaction” to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and cautioned that they are sometimes misused to target affluent individuals.

**Choosing Bobby Deol for the Role**

Describing the film as “a coming-of-age story of a man-child” who only realizes his mistakes near the end, Kashyap shared why he cast Bobby Deol in the lead role. “Bobby understands what it is to be a loser,” the director said, highlighting the actor’s suitability for portraying Samar’s complex character.

As of now, there is no official release date announced for *Bandar* in India. Fans await further updates on the film’s availability following its TIFF premiere.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/anurag-kashyap-talks-about-bandar/story

family, filmmaking, india, money, rumors

‘Homebound’s real family was only paid ₹10,000? Director addresses rumors

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**‘Homebound’s Real Family Was Only Paid ₹10,000? Director Neeraj Ghaywan Addresses Rumors**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 3, 2025, 4:50 PM*

Neeraj Ghaywan, the director of the much-acclaimed film *Homebound*, has recently addressed concerns and rumors suggesting that the family whose true story inspired the movie was compensated with only ₹10,000. This controversy sparked discussion on social media, prompting Ghaywan to clarify the situation.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Ghaywan explained that the ₹10,000 was a personal and symbolic gesture he made to Ram Charanji (Amrit’s father) years ago during his initial research phase. He emphasized that this amount does not reflect the full remuneration the family received.

> “Some of you have expressed concerns about reports claiming that the family whose life inspired *Homebound* was compensated with a mere ₹10,000, a shamefully low amount. I want to clarify that this sum was a small token I personally gave to Ram Charanji many years ago during my initial research, simply as a parting gesture,” Ghaywan wrote.

He further stressed that neither he nor the producers would reduce such a deeply personal and sensitive story to a mere pittance.

> “Please do not mistake this for the full extent of the compensation provided. Neither I, nor the producers would ever reduce such a deeply personal story to such a pittance. The family’s contributions are invaluable and deeply meaningful to me. We have honored their trust and stories with sincere respect and significant support.”

When asked about the exact compensation amount, Ghaywan chose not to disclose it, saying that sharing such details would disrespect the close bond he shares with Amrit and Saiyub—the original heroes of *Homebound*.

—

### About *Homebound*

*Homebound* was officially released on September 26, 2025. The film is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times essay *Taking Amrit Home*. It narrates the journey of two migrant friends during India’s COVID-19 lockdown, highlighting their struggles and resilience.

The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, and has been produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. Currently, *Homebound* is India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars.

To date, the movie has earned approximately ₹2.9 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk.

—

Neeraj Ghaywan’s candid clarification aims to respect both the family’s story and their contribution while dispelling misconceptions about the compensation they received.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/homebound-family-got-only-rs-10k-director-reacts-to-rumors/story

family, filmmaking, india, money, rumors

‘Homebound’s real family was only paid ₹10,000? Director addresses rumors

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**‘Homebound’s Real Family Was Only Paid ₹10,000? Director Neeraj Ghaywan Addresses Rumors**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 3, 2025, 4:50 PM*

Neeraj Ghaywan, the director of the critically acclaimed film *Homebound*, has responded to circulating reports claiming that the real-life family whose story inspired the movie was compensated with a mere ₹10,000.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Ghaywan clarified that the ₹10,000 amount was a personal token given by him during the early stages of his research and does not represent the total compensation the family received.

**A Small Token, Not Full Compensation**

Ghaywan wrote, “Some of you have expressed concerns about reports claiming that the family whose life inspired *Homebound* was compensated with a mere ₹10,000, a shamefully low amount. I want to clarify that this sum was a small token I personally gave to Ram Charanji (Amrit’s father) many years ago during my initial research, simply as a parting gesture.”

He further emphasized, “Please do not mistake this for the full extent of the compensation provided. Neither I, nor the producers would ever reduce such a deeply personal story to such a pittance. The family’s contributions are invaluable and deeply meaningful to me. We have honored their trust and stories with sincere respect and significant support.”

Ghaywan chose not to disclose the full compensation amount, stating, “I personally don’t want to mention the number because that would disrespect the bond I share with Amrit, Saiyub—the original heroes of *Homebound*.”

**About ‘Homebound’**

Released on September 26, 2025, *Homebound* is based on journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times essay *Taking Amrit Home*. The film follows the journey of two migrant friends during India’s COVID-19 lockdown and stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, the movie has so far grossed ₹2.9 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk.

*Homebound* has also been selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars.

For further updates, follow Neeraj Ghaywan’s official posts on X.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/homebound-family-got-only-rs-10k-director-reacts-to-rumors/story

family, filmmaking, india, money, rumors

‘Homebound’s real family was only paid ₹10,000? Director addresses rumors

Leave a comment

**‘Homebound’s Real Family Was Only Paid ₹10,000? Director Neeraj Ghaywan Addresses Rumors**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 3, 2025, 4:50 PM*

Neeraj Ghaywan, the director of the critically acclaimed film *Homebound*, has recently responded to circulating reports claiming that the family whose real-life story inspired the movie was compensated with a mere ₹10,000.

In a detailed statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Ghaywan clarified that the ₹10,000 mentioned was a personal gesture made during his initial research phase and is not representative of the total compensation offered to the family.

**A Small Token, Not the Entire Compensation**

Ghaywan addressed the concerns directly, writing, “Some of you have expressed concerns about reports claiming that the family whose life inspired *Homebound* was compensated with a mere ₹10,000, a shamefully low amount. I want to clarify that this sum was a small token I personally gave to Ram Charanji (Amrit’s father) many years ago during my initial research, simply as a parting gesture.”

He further emphasized, “Please do not mistake this for the full extent of the compensation provided. Neither I, nor the producers, would ever reduce such a deeply personal story to such a pittance. The family’s contributions are invaluable and deeply meaningful to me. We have honored their trust and stories with sincere respect and significant support.”

Respecting the privacy and personal bond he shares with the real-life heroes of *Homebound*, Ghaywan chose not to disclose the complete compensation amount, stating, “I personally don’t want to mention the number because that would disrespect the bond I share with Amrit, Saiyub—the original heroes of *Homebound*.”

**About *Homebound***

Released on September 26, 2025, *Homebound* is based on journalist Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times essay, *Taking Amrit Home*. The film portrays the journeys of two migrant friends during India’s COVID-19 lockdown, highlighting their struggles and resilience.

The movie stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, and is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. Garnering significant attention, *Homebound* has earned ₹2.9 crore worldwide so far, according to Sacnilk.

Furthermore, *Homebound* has been chosen as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards, reflecting its critical and cultural impact.

—

*Read Director Neeraj Ghaywan’s full clarification on X [here](#).*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/homebound-family-got-only-rs-10k-director-reacts-to-rumors/story