Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 12: Veteran filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is once again stirring conversations, this time taking aim at the current obsession with "pan-India" films—a trend he boldly labels as a "massive scam." Known for his candid takes on the Indian film industry, Kashyap recently explained why he has distanced himself from Bollywood, citing a growing disillusionment with its working environment.

Speaking at The Huddle event, Kashyap didn't hold back as he criticized the pan-India film movement—big-budget productions made with the intent to appeal across regional markets. “For me, this whole pan-India concept is a scam,” he said. “These films take years to produce, impacting countless livelihoods. But instead of focusing on meaningful storytelling, the budgets are blown on lavish, often absurd sets. Only a tiny fraction—maybe 1 percent—of these films actually work.”

He also highlighted a troubling pattern: the industry's tendency to chase formulas rather than originality. “Once Uri: The Surgical Strike did well, suddenly everyone wanted to make patriotic films. After Baahubali, the focus shifted to grand spectacles with stars like Prabhas. Then came KGF, and the imitation game began again. But this blind mimicry kills authentic storytelling,” Kashyap added.

Pan-India films—released simultaneously in languages like Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam—rose to prominence after the blockbuster success of Baahubali in 2015. The model saw further validation with hits like Pushpa: The Rise, but Kashyap believes the focus on scale over substance is doing more harm than good.

As for his own projects, Kashyap’s film Kennedy is still awaiting a theatrical release date in India. He recently appeared on screen in Rifle Club and Viduthalai Part 2, continuing to make his mark both behind and in front of the camera.