Copyright newskarnataka
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has opened up about a remarkable moment from his early career, revealing how producer Boney Kapoor once made an extravagant offer to sign him before the release of his debut film Paanch. Speaking in a recent conversation, Kashyap recalled Kapoor telling him to “point at any building” and he would “get a flat” there for him if he agreed to collaborate. A pre-release offer that sounds unreal today According to Kashyap, the moment dates back to a time when he had not yet released Paanch, which later became known for its controversies and delayed release. Despite Kashyap not having a commercially established name back then, Kapoor was reportedly convinced of his talent and wanted to secure a collaboration early. Kashyap said Kapoor took him to Bandra and Juhu, two of Mumbai’s most expensive neighbourhoods, and offered to settle him there. The filmmaker recalled Kapoor telling him to simply pick a building and he’d take care of the purchase — a gesture Kashyap described as both flattering and overwhelming. Why the offer didn’t work out Kashyap ultimately chose not to accept the offer, suggesting that while the gesture was grand, he felt it came with creative expectations he was not prepared to compromise. The filmmaker has long been vocal about his preference for creative autonomy over commercial leverage. He explained that the filmmaking environment then was driven by star-led, high-stake projects, and his storytelling leaned more towards raw, grounded narratives. Kashyap suggested he did not want to be in a position where creative direction could shift based on commercial expectations. A reminder of Bollywood’s old networking culture The story also highlights a different era of Bollywood, when deals were often sealed informally, based on trust and instinct. Mega producers would invest heavily in people they believed could be the “next big thing”, sometimes without contracts being finalised upfront. In today’s industry, where talent discovery is more layered and paperwork-driven, such gestures seem almost unreal. Kashyap and Kapoor today Despite the moment becoming a talking point, Kashyap emphasised there is no negative history or tension between him and Kapoor. The anecdote was shared with amusement, reflecting how drastically the industry — and his own circumstances — have changed since. Kashyap has continued making films known for their gritty storytelling, while Boney Kapoor remains one of the most established producers in the Hindi film industry.
