Anurag Kashyap says ‘Bandar’ not about ‘MeToo’ or ‘MenToo’

**Anurag Kashyap Clarifies ‘Bandar’ Is Not About #MeToo or #MenToo**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 04, 2025, 05:04 PM*

Anurag Kashyap’s latest film, *Bandar* (Monkey in a Cage), was recently showcased at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The movie is an unsettling exploration of the ripple effects of the #MeToo movement in digital-age India. Kashyap opened up about the inspiration behind this provocative film and its lead character, portrayed by Bobby Deol.

**A Film Born Out of Social Media Reaction**

Kashyap explained that *Bandar* emerged as a response to the rapid societal changes driven by social media. In an interview with Indian Express, he said, “*Bandar* came out of a reaction to what’s happening on social media. Within minutes, people go viral. Similarly, within minutes, they are canceled.”

He was quick to clarify that the film was not intended to be a #MeToo or #MenToo narrative. “Sometimes people don’t realize what they are doing. Everyone deserves a chance to correct themselves,” Kashyap stated.

**Highlighting a Broken Judicial System**

*Bandar* centers around Samar (played by Bobby Deol), an aging television star accused of sexual assault by his former girlfriend, Gayatri (Sapna Pabbi). The film sheds light on the prevalent issues within India’s justice system.

Kashyap emphasized, “I wanted the film to highlight how broken our system is. Only 27 percent of rape cases are reported. In small towns and villages, such cases often go unreported.”

He also voiced concerns about the current law against sexual assault, calling it a “knee-jerk reaction” to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and pointed out that it is sometimes misused to target wealthy individuals.

**Casting Bobby Deol as the Imperfect Lead**

Describing the film as “a coming-of-age story of a man-child,” Kashyap noted that Samar, the protagonist, fails to realize his mistakes until almost the end of the story. He added, “I chose Bobby because he understands what it is to be a loser.”

Currently, there is no official release date announced for *Bandar* in India.

*Stay tuned for more updates on this intense and thought-provoking film from Anurag Kashyap.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/anurag-kashyap-talks-about-bandar/story

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