Anurag Kashyap Opens Up On Why Ranveer Singh Was Replaced By Ranbir Kapoor In Bombay Velvet
Anurag Kashyap Opens Up On Why Ranveer Singh Was Replaced By Ranbir Kapoor In Bombay Velvet
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, known for his raw storytelling and independent approach to cinema, recently revisited one of the most talked-about chapters of his career — the making of Bombay Velvet. In a candid chat at Game Changers, Kashyap revealed why Ranveer Singh was initially chosen for the lead role but eventually replaced by Ranbir Kapoor, and how the film’s inflated scale compromised his creative freedom.
Kashyap shared that Bombay Velvet began as a modestly budgeted project. “The original budget was just ₹28 crore,” he said. “But once the studio came on board, ambition took over. The budget shot up to ₹90 crore. Suddenly, we went from traveling in rickshaws to using Mercedes cars on set. A resort was even built in Sri Lanka near the shooting location.”
The Gangs of Wasseypur director admitted that the film’s growing scale led to a loss of control. “When you work on a massive budget, freedom goes out the window. I couldn’t make the film the way I wanted. That’s why I prefer smaller, more personal stories — they allow me to breathe creatively,” he explained.
Anurag Kashyap Opens Up On Why Ranveer Singh Was Replaced By Ranbir Kapoor In Bombay Velvet
Kashyap also revealed a lesser-known fact — Ranveer Singh was his original choice for Bombay Velvet. “At that time, I had cast a young actor named Ranveer Singh,” he recalled. “But nobody believed in him. Big directors would call him a treadmill because of his energy. They told me, ‘We don’t know what will happen to him, but Ranbir is the safer choice.’ It took me nearly a year, mentally and emotionally, to move from Ranveer to Ranbir.”
The filmmaker added that he spent months debating whether to scale up Bombay Velvet or keep it intimate. “I spoke to everyone in the industry — from Karan Johar to Aditya Chopra. Everyone said, ‘You’re crazy, but go ahead. Do it with a bigger star.’ Eventually, I gave in,” Kashyap admitted.
Reflecting on the outcome, Kashyap accepted full responsibility for the film’s box-office failure. “After a long time, Ranveer himself confirmed that he was offered Bombay Velvet but was replaced because people thought he couldn’t bring in the money. Ironically, he’s now working with the same people who once doubted him,” the director said.
He concluded with a candid takeaway about his filmmaking philosophy: “This industry is unpredictable. I’ve learned to make movies within a controlled budget so no one suffers losses. I’m not chasing blockbusters or competition. The story should be powerful — that’s all that matters. Whether the film becomes big or not is never in our hands.”
With his trademark honesty, Kashyap’s reflection on Bombay Velvet offers a rare glimpse into the struggles between art and commerce — and a reminder of how faith in an artist can change everything.