10 March,2026 07:02 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anurag Kashyap on Gangs of Wasseypur
Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur is known as one of the most significant films of the 21st century in Indian cinema. However, it was initially written as a trilogy, but the team could not structure it. Following the template, the filmmaker released Nishaanchi in two parts on OTT, and the response was phenomenal. In a chat during mid-day's Sit With Hitlist, Anurag also shares how OTT platforms view India primarily as a market for expanding subscriber numbers rather than nurturing quality content.
Speaking about the decision to release both parts of Nishaanchi together on OTT, Kashyap said it came after early reactions to the first half of the film. "After we saw the reactions of part one, people were pissed off that half of the film is incomplete, there is a flashback, and it's long. I said, 'Put both the parts together; who will understand?' The generation that loved it was over 35-40. Because there is a lot of nostalgia in it. They loved Nishaanchi and the festival guys who loved it. And they wanted to show both parts."
Reflecting on his earlier work, Kashyap revealed that Gangs of Wasseypur was originally written as three scripts. However, the team struggled with structuring it as a trilogy. "Gangs of Wasseypur was two scripts. Actually, it was three scripts, but we didn't know how to break it into three parts. It was written in like three parts," he said.
The filmmaker also spoke about his early association with Netflix, recalling how the platform had reached out to him as early as 2013 with a proposal related to Gangs of Wasseypur. "Netflix reached out to me on Facebook in 2013. They wanted Gangs of Wasseypur to be serialised. It became a six- or eight-episode series for the US as a trial for a month. Later, it continued further, and they even increased the budget," Kashyap explained, adding that the project was part of the platform's early efforts to enter the Indian market.
However, Kashyap believes the streaming ecosystem has changed significantly since then. According to him, platforms that once backed artistically driven, prestige content - especially during the time of shows like Sacred Games - are now prioritising market-driven projects.
Recalling a conversation with a tech executive, Kashyap said the shift is tied to data and subscription numbers. "Somebody very senior from Silicon Valley said that India is just our dumping ground. And what he meant was that 'data is the new oil'. All you want is more subscribers. A country with the highest population will always have the most subscribers. They just want subscribers. They want to maximise. They don't want quality from India," he claimed.
Looking back at his collaborations, Kashyap pointed out that some of the studios' first major films were associated with him. His films Dev D and Aamir were among the early titles connected with UTV Motion Pictures and SpotboyE, while Gangs of Wasseypur marked an early project for Viacom18 Motion Pictures.
"I feel like for the entry, I am needed. After that, they go on to stars, big money, and everything. Then it's like - okay, go to the side," he said, reflecting on how the industry often sidelines filmmakers once studios scale up commercially.
