Showing posts with label Bandar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bandar. Show all posts
I was not allowed to tell Salman Mamu that I was doing this song for Bobby uncle’s film-Ayaan Agnihotri
9:33 AM
Mahima Pandey (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 6, 2026)
Musician Ayaan Agnihotri, who is the nephew of actor Salman Khan and goes with the stage name Agni, made his Bollywood playback debut this year with C’mon Baby in the Bobby Deol-starrer Bandar. But before the release, he had to keep the project a secret from his uncle.
“I was not allowed to tell Salman Mamu that I was doing this song for Bobby uncle’s film. Nikhil (Dwivedi, co-producer), swore me to secrecy. He said, ‘When this song goes through, then I will play it to your Mamu and tell him I’ve discovered a new voice. What do you think of this guy?’,” Ayaan recalls.
Salman’s response, he says, was encouraging. “He liked it, and when he met me the next time, he told me I did a good job and should stay at it,” the 33-year-old shares.
The son of Salman’s sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri and filmmaker Atul Agnihotri, Ayaan had once planned to become an actor but life had other plans. He shares, “I went to university to do acting and world theatre. As I went on, I realized that it’s just performing in general that I enjoy. Around the same time, I started writing and found a special connection with music. I felt I could express things that I wanted to through my writing. Music helped me relate to things I was going through and get through them. That really made an impact on me.”
While music is taking up all his time currently, acting is still on his radar. “Maybe sometime in the future. It’s definitely not off the agenda because I do love acting. But right now, the focus is on the music,” he ends.
Is a Hollywood 'Obsession' sidelining Hindi releases?
2:59 PM
After filmmaker Anurag Kashyap claimed that Hollywood films are getting priority over Hindi films in theatres, trade experts weigh in on the impact on Indian releases
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 17, 2026)
The global success of the Hollywood horror film Obsession, which has reportedly earned 330 times its budget, has become a case study in world cinema. However, it has sparked mixed reactions within the Hindi film industry.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently expressed concern on his Instagram Stories that theatre chains are prioritizing Obsession over Hindi releases, including his film Bandar (released on June 5) and recent Friday releases such as Main Vaapas Aaunga, Governor, and others.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta, however, believes international films aren’t an impediment. He shares, “Only bad content is coming in the industry. Bandar is not doing well even otherwise, so the number of shows isn’t going to make a difference,” adding, “If in two shows, they can’t get houseful, what will they get in 20 shows?”
Trade analyst Atul Mohan adds that multiplex programming is largely driven by audience response. He says, “In a way, Anurag is right. Business is ruthless. If a film doesn’t do well in the first two days, they reduce the shows drastically, which doesn’t give time for word of mouth to spread. Hindi films deserve that time to grow.”
Film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi echoes the sentiment and says that the audience makes the ultimate decision. “If Main Vaapas Aaunga or any other film have very good occupancy levels, cinemas across the country would increase the number of shows, like they did for Haunted – Echoes Of The Past in the same week. So, it’s not about the theatres but what the audience decides,” he shares.
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These are business-oriented decisions. There is a policy for encouraging local produce, and there should also be a policy for encouraging local cinema. But there are arguments on both sides of the matter, and can’t be compared.
- IMTIAZ ALI, DIRECTOR OF MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA
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Nothing is coming in the industry except bad content. If Anurag thinks it is because of Obsession that Bandar is not doing well, he should see the collections. Critical acclaim is not the same as the box office, and when we talk about competition, we talk about box office. So, Obsession is not acting as an impediment to the running of Indian films at all.
- KOMAL NAHTA, TRADE ANALYST
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‘FOR EVERY DHURANDHAR, THERE WILL BE FIVE EXPENSIVE FILMS THAT WILL BOMB’
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 17, 2026)
For Indian films to not get enough attention from theatres, despite having good reviews, does not go down well with Anurag.
He tells us, “Films like Bandar and Main Vaapas Aaunga should get proper shows so that people can watch them, allowing word of mouth to build up. Then another problem is that there’s an audience that is getting used to seeing such films on OTT. So you’re building an audience only for event movies. But such films are so expensive, and the hit-and-miss ratio is huge. For every Dhurandhar, there will be five expensive films that will bomb.”
He emphasizes strategic show timings for smaller films too. He adds, “Bandar’s night shows were full. But who’s going to go watch Bandar at 9 am, when it is going to upset you for the rest of the day? There’s human psychology also involved.”
Obsessed with Obsession? Anurag Kashyap calls out limited screenings for Indian films
9:24 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 15, 2026)
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has voiced his frustration over the way theatres are giving limited screen space to Indian films while continuing to schedule multiple shows for the Hollywood horror film Obsession, released on May 29.
Sharing his concerns on Instagram Stories (inset above), Kashyap said the issue was not the film’s popularity but the lack of visibility for local releases. “If we don’t priorities our own films with better showcasing, then I don’t understand how we will grow,” he wrote.
Kashyap noted that his recently released film Bandar faced a similar challenge last week, while Main Vaapas Aaunga, Sing Geetham and Governor are now struggling to secure enough screens.
However, social media reactions seem divided on the matter. While some agreed with Kashyap, others think that quality content is what is missing from the Indian film industry.
A user commented, “You are making boring films like Bandar, what to say.” Another wrote, “He has almost everytime delivered good content...We should genuinely prioritize our own cinema.” One person shared, “First learn to give quality content then speak about showtimes. Don’t teach theatres how to run.”
Kashyap’s comments come amid a crowded box-office weekend that saw nine films release on the same day: : Main Vaapas Aaunga, Governor, Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, Haunted 3D, Sing Geetham, Varavu, Disclosure Day, Backrooms and Heer Sara, raising concerns about screen availability and the impact on smaller titles during their crucial opening weekend.
(Crisp) Movie Review: BANDAR by FENIL SETA
4:09 PM
Bandar is inspired by true events and is quite shocking. Audiences will feel stunned to know that something of this sort is happening and how the law can be misused. Anurag Kashyap depicts prison life and its unhygienic, uninhabitable conditions with disturbing realism. At the same time, he also infuses humour organically into the narrative. The police station scene in the beginning is terrific and even goes one step ahead of a similar scene in Ugly. However, the makers don’t tie up all the aspects of the film convincingly. The protagonist’s bond with the girl is not laid out properly, and a few questions remain unanswered. Lastly, the finale, though justified and realistic, feels underwhelming. Bobby Deol is outstanding and this is one of his greatest performances of his career. Sapna Pabbi has limited screen time but watch out for her performance; it's chilling. Sanya Malhotra is dependable as always, while Saba Azad is decent. Jitendra Joshi (Inspector Deore) is the scene-stealer; Sukant Goel (Aatish), Indrajit Sukumaran (Lijo), Ankush Gedam (Bilaal) and Raj B Shetty (Lizard Man) are memorable. Riddhi Sen (Advocate Mukherjee), Ghanshyam Garg (Shiva; servant), Aurobindo Bhatacharjee (Gayatri's lawyer) and Uday Tikekar (Judge) also do well. All in all, Bandar is worth watching for its shocking story and Bobby's performance.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 937
3:58 PM
WILL HAI JAWANI TOH ISHQ HONA HAI WORK AT THE BOX OFFICE?
The dry month of May is over and now, all eyes are on Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, the first major release of the season. It is said to be the last directorial venture of David Dhawan and that has added to the hype.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde and just like most films of David Dhawan, it’s a comic caper. The songs have caught attention, especially ‘Chunari Chunari’ and ‘Ishq Sona Hai’. The teaser of the film got thumbs down due to the use of AI-generated twin babies. However, the trailer had a better reception.
The advance sales of the film are fine but not great. Most viewers have opted for a wait-and-watch strategy, that is, they’ll wait for the reviews before deciding whether or not to buy tickets. As of now, the opening seems to be around Rs. 6-7 crores. A huge jump can be expected on Saturday if the reports are positive.
The dry month of May is over and now, all eyes are on Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, the first major release of the season. It is said to be the last directorial venture of David Dhawan and that has added to the hype.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde and just like most films of David Dhawan, it’s a comic caper. The songs have caught attention, especially ‘Chunari Chunari’ and ‘Ishq Sona Hai’. The teaser of the film got thumbs down due to the use of AI-generated twin babies. However, the trailer had a better reception.
The advance sales of the film are fine but not great. Most viewers have opted for a wait-and-watch strategy, that is, they’ll wait for the reviews before deciding whether or not to buy tickets. As of now, the opening seems to be around Rs. 6-7 crores. A huge jump can be expected on Saturday if the reports are positive.
The other release is Bandar, starring Bobby Deol. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, it tells the story of a man wrongly accused in a rape case. The song ‘Come On Baby’ is catchy and has been loved. But the film looks dark and hence, will appeal to a select audience only. The film should open around Rs. 1 crore.
Lastly, Peddi was released today in the original Telugu and Hindi versions. It stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor and has taken a flying start in Telugu. In Hindi, however, it’ll open at around Rs. 1-2 crore at best and can go higher if the evening footfalls are better than expected.
Salman Khan's nephew Ayaan Agnihotri sings his first Hindi song for Bobby Deol's Bandar
10:46 AM
Sources say Salman Khan’s nephew and musician Ayaan Agnihotri attempted his first Hindi song ‘Come On Baby’ for ‘Bandar’ at producer Nikhil Dwivedi’s behest
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 15, 2026)
If you’ve seen Bandar’s teaser, it’s almost impossible to miss the track, Come On Baby, playing throughout as viewers are taken into the dark world of Anurag Kashyap’s next featuring Bobby Deol. What many don’t know is that the number has been sung by musician and Salman Khan’s nephew Ayaan Agnihotri. Going behind the mic is not new for Agnihotri, aka Agni, who has belted out several English tracks. Playback singing for a Hindi film, however, is.
It turns out that producer Nikhil Dwivedi, a family friend of the Khans, convinced Agnihotri to lend his voice to the song after hearing him sing at a private function.
A source told mid-day, “Ayaan usually does not sing in Hindi. He was persuaded to give this a shot by Nikhil, who felt that Ayaan had a unique voice. Nikhil assured him that if he didn’t enjoy singing the track, they wouldn’t use it. After hearing himself, Ayaan too was convinced. In fact, Bobby also encouraged him after he heard the scratch version.”
Interestingly, Come On Baby is recreated from the album of Videsh, a 1977 film featuring Mahendra Sandhu, Shoma Anand, and Prem Krishen. It stayed with Dwivedi over the years.
The source elaborated, “While producing Bandar, Nikhil was keen to use it on Bobby’s character, an ageing television actor whose career is on the decline. While the lyrics have been retained, the number has been recreated by Aditya Dev and Payal Dev.”
I identify with Bobby Deol; I’ve been written off often-Anurag Kashyap
9:19 AM
Amid ‘Bandar’ creating ripples at TIFF, Anurag Kashyap says Bobby Deol was the perfect lead as he sought an actor who battled failure and wasn’t social-media savvy
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 13, 2025)
We’ve learnt to expect the unexpected from Anurag Kashyap. Even then, the filmmaker surprised us by casting Bobby Deol, a star as mainstream as they come, in Bandar (Monkey in a Cage). When Kashyap sits down with us days after the movie’s première at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), he says that Deol was the perfect choice to lead the story of an ageing television star, whose life changes overnight when he is accused of rape by his ex-girlfriend after he cuts off all ties with her.
“The story is of a has-been. The actor had to be my age as my generation has not transitioned well to the social media age. Bobby understands what failure means. He has seen his career fade away and then he found his way back,” says Kashyap.
Through Bandar, the director has explored the grey areas of #MeToo accusations, the fine line between right and wrong, and questioned the treatment of inmates in Indian prisons. When Kashyap narrated the film to Deol, he immediately wanted to play the complex role. What the actor told him about his struggle has remained with the filmmaker even today.
“Bobby said that if he’d pass by a house where a shoot was happening, he would cry or get angry wondering why nobody was asking him to act in that film. He told me, ‘At 40, somebody told me I needed to do an acting workshop. Then I played the most disgusting person I know in Aashram. That’s when I realized it’s liberating to play characters and not always the hero.’ Bobby was perfect for this role because he understood all that. I could identify with Bobby because I have been written off many times,” shares the director before praising his leading man for being “emotionally bare” in the film.
Owing to its theme, Bandar has created ripples at TIFF. Kashyap isn’t surprised, knowing well that his recent work is “polarizing and hard-hitting”.
He reasons, “It’s a conversation starter. That’s why it has been impactful. Bandar has been the most difficult movie to make emotionally because it’s a film about things in the past when there was no social media. We’re dealing with an emotional subject. We’re asking questions. I didn’t share the script with any actor because I was also in the process of finding my film.”
To Kashyap, Bandar is a film about making mistakes, and more importantly, “being called out for it”. The director elaborates, “We were given a second chance to redeem ourselves. Today, it is [the age of] cancel culture. The world doesn’t give anybody a chance to redeem themselves. Everything will go viral! We are in an age where we need to start having conversations.”
Anurag Kashyap treats the script like a map, not the truth-Saba Azad
8:52 AM
As their film Bandar premières at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, actor Saba Azad opens up about working with Anurag Kashyap, saying it was all about freedom and spontaneity
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 9, 2025)
It hasn’t been 10 days into the month, yet Saba Azad knows that September has given her the year’s most cherished memory. On September 6, the actor took in every moment as Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar (Monkey In A Cage) — which features her alongside Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra — premièred at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). “It’s a dream to be here, not only because our film is having its première, but also because everyone here is united by the love of cinema,” she said to mid-day, hours before the premiere.
A festival favourite, Kashyap, this time, tells the story of Deol’s television star who is accused of rape by his ex-girlfriend after he cuts off all ties with her. Through Bandar, the filmmaker not only looks at the grey areas of #MeToo accusations, but also examines India’s prison system.
When we asked Azad how it was to be directed by Kashyap, she answered in a heartbeat. “Working with Anurag feels like freedom,” she said, before adding, “It’s liberating to work with a director who has faith in his casting choices. So, he leaves his actors to their devices — he will set up the scene in a way such that [we] have the room to react and improvise, not just repeat dialogues and mirror spoon-fed emotions. Anurag treats the script like a map, not the ultimate truth.”
Bandar’s world première comes days after the Prime Video release of Songs Of Paradise, a biopic led by Azad. The two back-to-back talked-about projects have brought the actor a sense of validation that had eluded her 17-year career so far.
“It has taken me a while to get here. It feels like I’m starting afresh. To be able to do roles that employ your abilities as an actor has been the dream, and for your work to be noticed is a blessing. I hope to be able to keep doing cinema that stays with you long after you watch it.”
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