20 October,2026 04:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anurag Kashyap. Pic via AFP
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap believes Bollywood is increasingly favouring patriotic and devotional films, leaving filmmakers with fewer opportunities to explore other genres. With titles such as Dhurandhar 2, Border 2 and Hanuman Ansh finding success, Kashyap says the current trend has made it difficult for diverse projects to secure backing.
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, the filmmaker spoke about the challenges of making independent cinema while discussing his role as executive producer on Little Thomas, a children's film directed by Kaushal Oza and starring Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal.
"I see myself more as an enabler," Kashyap said, explaining that his role involves supporting filmmakers and helping them complete and release their projects. Kashyap said the challenge of getting films made extends across genres, whether they are intended for children or adults.
"It is just about faith and upping somebody's morale. I see myself as someone who keeps morale high and helps them complete and release a film. I don't think anybody knows what to make today. It is difficult to make films. Whether it's a children's film or an adult film, making your own film is difficult today," he said.
The filmmaker also recalled a conversation with a producer who admitted uncertainty about what kind of project to pursue in the current climate. "I was talking to a producer the other day, and they said, 'We don't know what to do'. You can make either a patriotic or a devotional film. Otherwise, nothing else is getting greenlit. That is a fact and a tragedy," Kashyap said.
Despite the challenges, he hopes Little Thomas can find its audience. "Hopefully, this film will sneak in, because this is not like any other film out there," he added.
Kashyap also questioned the tendency to categorise films featuring children as children's cinema, arguing that a young protagonist does not necessarily determine the intended audience.
Citing the Telugu film Don't Trouble The Trouble, starring Fahadh Faasil and backed by SS Rajamouli, he questioned whether the presence of an adult star changes how a film is perceived. He also pointed to coming-of-age stories and the series Adolescence as examples of narratives centred on young people that are made for adult audiences.
Written and directed by Kaushal Oza, Little Thomas features Hridansh Parekh in the titular role alongside Devaiah and Dugal. The film is produced by Kashyap, Anushka Shah, Charu Oza, Rajnikant Oza, Akshay Thakker, Kabir Ahuja and Ranjan Singh. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 23.
