Anurag Kashyap Says Bollywood Is Favouring Patriotic and Devotional Films, Making It Harder to Create Diverse Cinema

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap believes that the growing popularity of patriotic and devotional films in Bollywood has made it increasingly difficult for filmmakers to explore different genres.  The director and producer shared his views on the current state of Hindi cinema, where films centred on patriotism and religion appear to be receiving greater attention.

The year 2026 has seen considerable buzz around patriotic and devotional films, with titles such as Dhurandhar and Hanuman Ansh contributing to the ongoing discussion about changing audience preferences and industry trends. According to Kashyap, this growing focus has created challenges for filmmakers hoping to bring more diverse stories to the big screen.

Kashyap is currently supporting the independently made children’s film Little Thomas, which stars Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal and is directed by Kaushal Oza. Speaking about his involvement as an executive producer, he explained that his contribution is primarily about encouraging filmmakers and helping them bring their projects to completion.

“I see myself more as an enabler,” Kashyap said, describing his role as one of providing support, building confidence and helping independent filmmakers navigate the process of making and releasing their films.

He further pointed out that producing a film has become a challenging task, regardless of its intended audience or genre. According to him, filmmakers today are finding it difficult to determine what kind of content they should create in an increasingly uncertain industry.

“Film banana hi difficult hai,” he remarked, emphasising that making an independent film is no easy feat, whether it is aimed at children or adults.

Kashyap’s comments highlight the difficulties faced by filmmakers who want to experiment with unconventional subjects and tell stories beyond the dominant trends in Hindi cinema. His support for Little Thomas also reflects his commitment to helping independent projects reach audiences at a time when getting films made and released has become increasingly challenging.

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