Anurag Kashyap Reveals Secret about Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Anurag Kashyap Reveals Secret about Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently opened up about the turbulent journey behind his iconic crime saga Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) during a candid conversation with Komal Nahta. The director revealed that the project faced a major setback when UTV Motion Pictures, which was initially backing the film, withdrew from production just three days before filming was set to begin.
“They Asked Me, ‘Nawazuddin Kis Angle Se Yeh Role Karega?’”
Recalling the moment, Anurag said,
“I had waived off my fee for Gangs of Wasseypur. UTV Motion Pictures was producing it back then. But they asked me, ‘Nawazuddin Siddiqui kis angle se yeh role karega?’ They wanted a bigger star for the part. Three days before the shoot, they walked out. By then, all my actors and crew were already at the location.”
The director’s belief in his story and cast, however, didn’t waver.
Sunil Bohra and Viacom18 Saved the Project
Anurag recalled meeting Sunil Bohra, who immediately resonated with the script and even loved the song “Bahut Khoob.” He added,
“Sunil told me, ‘Tu tension mat le, main baat karta hoon kisi se.’ Around that time, Viacom18 Motion Pictures was just starting under Vikram Malhotra. Within two days, they came on board and said, ‘Go ahead, make your film.’”
Anurag Kashyap Reveals Secret about Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Anurag’s Unshakable Conviction
Kashyap further shared that he decided to give up his fee entirely, confident that the film would eventually prove its worth.
“My conviction was so strong that I said, ‘I’ll leave my fee, but I’m sure this film will work.’ That experience taught me something valuable — if I don’t have something at stake, why would anyone else trust me? Since then, I’ve often told producers, ‘Don’t pay me now. Let me make the film my way. If it earns, then you can pay me.’”
A Cult Classic Born from Faith and Risk
Despite the early roadblocks, Gangs of Wasseypur went on to become a cult classic, redefining Indian crime cinema and launching several powerhouse talents into the spotlight. The ensemble cast included Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, Reema Sen, Huma Qureshi, Rajkummar Rao, Vineet Kumar Singh, Piyush Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vipin Sharma, Zeishan Quadri, and Anurita Jha, among others.
Anurag’s resilience and unwavering faith not only resurrected a project on the brink of collapse but also gave Indian cinema one of its most celebrated sagas — a reminder that true conviction can turn even the toughest setbacks into success stories.