Anurag Kashyap reveals Vicky Kaushal always wanted to be a mainstream actor despite starting with Masaan

Anurag Kashyap; Vicky Kaushal in Masaan

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is known to be one of the few filmmakers in the industry who has always led strong narratives above anything else. His films have almost always struck the critical chord more than box office numbers. Talking about the same, in the recent episode of Sit with Hitlist, Anurag Kashyap opened up about how he has often made the first films of studios, before they went commercial.

During the conversation, he also spoke about Vicky Kaushal, who debuted with the filmmaker's 2015 film Masaan.

Anurag Kashyap on Vicky Kaushal going mainstream after Masaan

Anurag Kashyap discussed how he was the entry point for a lot of film studios and production houses. He joked, "I am the first film of every studio, and then they go out, and they become all corrupt. Then it's about stars, it's about big money and everything. For entry, I am needed; after that, just go to the side."

When asked if it was the same for others like actors, musicians, technicians, among others. For example, Vicky Kaushal, who started his career with Anurag Kashyap's Masaan in 2025. Responding to this, Anurag says Vicky is a wrong example because the Chhaava actor always wanted to be mainstream. He says, "Vicky had no other option but to start with a Masaan. But in his heart, he was always honest; he always wanted to be mainstream. He always had the Bhangra Paa Le thing in him."

Anurag Kashyap says Vicky Kaushal would entertain them on Gangs of Wasseypur sets

"Our entertainment on the sets of Gangs of Wasseypur was Vicky's dancing. We would be like, ‘Come on, Vicky, dance.' He used to dance. He used to do action scenes," he adds. For the unversed, Vicky Kaushal served as an assistant director (AD) to Anurag Kashyap on both parts of Gangs of Wasseypur. He was a key crew member, responsible for holding the clapperboard.

Further citing the example of Vasan Bala's 2013 short film Geek Out starring Vicky Kaushal, the filmmaker adds, "If you see the short film that Vasan (Bala) made with him for the first time, you will realise how commercial Vicky is."