Anurag Kashyap Reflects on ‘Sell-Out’ Tag After Working With Karan Johar on Bombay Velvet

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has spoken candidly about the criticism he continues to face for collaborating with Karan Johar on the 2015 film Bombay Velvet, revealing that many people still accuse him of having “sold out” creatively after the project.

In a recent interaction, Kashyap said the perception stems from the sharp contrast audiences draw between his image as an independent, edgy filmmaker and Johar’s association with mainstream, big-budget cinema. According to Kashyap, fans who once viewed the two as representing opposite ends of the Bollywood spectrum felt disappointed when he chose to work with Johar, both as a producer and an actor in the film.

Bombay Velvet, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, was mounted as an ambitious period neo-noir drama and was among the costliest Hindi films at the time. However, its poor box-office performance became a turning point in Kashyap’s career, fuelling narratives that his creative downfall began with that collaboration.

The director defended his decision, stating that Johar was well-suited for the role he played and delivered a natural performance. Kashyap acknowledged, however, that the film’s failure took an emotional toll and affected his relationships within the industry. He admitted that facing his collaborators after the backlash was difficult and led to a certain distance over time.

While there is no bitterness between them today, Kashyap said interactions with his former collaborators have become more formal. Reflecting on the experience, he noted that public perception can be unforgiving and long-lasting, especially in the film industry.