14 August,2026 08:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anurag Kashyap and Shubhra Shetty (Pics/X)
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's personal life has often been in the spotlight. He was previously married to film editor Aarti Bajaj and actress Kalki Koechlin, and is now in a relationship with Shubhra Shetty, who is 20 years younger. Addressing the judgments around their age gap, Kashyap opened up about his insecurities and their relationship.
In an interview with Janice Sequira, Anurag Kashyap opens up about dealing with judgments and the fear of being age-shamed. He spoke about their bond and said, "Our bond was books, movies, festivals. She goes to more festivals than me."
Reflecting on their relationship and age difference, he shared, "We've had our share of troubles. Shaming nahi, but self-conscious. At one point, I had become so conscious that I tried to push her away. Her face doesn't look her age. So, the more I grew old and she kept looking the same, that's why I was so conscious."
Despite being apprehensive, it was during lockdown that Anurag realised his love for Shubhra. "Our generation never spoke about our trauma. Zindagi mein, you know what you want, but you're testing the other person, you're also testing yourself at the same time. You want to be certain that this is not going away. Though we've been together for 11 years, in my head, I fully knew that this is it when she spent an entire shoot of Nishaanchi on the set. For me to come to this stage where I have my own realisation and to admit to myself became a long time."
When asked how her parents reacted to her dating Kashyap, Shubhra said, "My mother now thinks he's like a henpecked husband. But initially, if I were a parent and my 20-year-old daughter was dating a 40-something-year-old man who is twice married, has a kid, rumoured to be a lot of other things, how would you? I think my parents did a pretty good job."
Anurag Kashyap recently directed Bandar, which starred Bobby Deol. The film got fewer screens as it clashed with Obsession. Reacting to it, he had said, "Bandar's night shows were full. But who will go and watch it at 9 AM when it is going to upset you for the rest of the day? There's human psychology also involved. If I watch my own film, the rest of my day will be ruined."
