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

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

*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 4, 2025*

Anurag Kashyap’s latest film, *Bandar* (Monkey in a Cage), recently made its debut at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The movie offers an unsettling exploration of the “ripple effects of #MeToo in digital-age India,” but Kashyap stresses that it is not specifically a #MeToo or #MenToo film.

### Inspiration Behind *Bandar*

Speaking to Indian Express, Kashyap shared that the film was born out of a reaction to rapid changes brought about by social media. He explained, “Within minutes, people go viral. Similarly, within minutes, they are canceled.” However, he emphasized that his intention was not to make a #MeToo or #MenToo movie.

“Sometimes people don’t realize what they are doing. Everyone deserves a chance to correct themselves,” Kashyap added, highlighting the nuanced approach he took in portraying such a sensitive subject.

### A Commentary on India’s Broken Judicial System

*Bandar* revolves around Samar, played by Bobby Deol, an aging television star accused of sexual assault by his former girlfriend, Gayatri (portrayed by Sapna Pabbi). Kashyap stated his desire for the film to spotlight the flaws within India’s judicial system.

He pointed out a striking statistic: only 27 percent of rape cases are reported, especially in small towns and villages where such incidents often go unreported. According to Kashyap, the current law is a “knee-jerk reaction” to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and is sometimes misused to target “moneyed people.”

### Why Bobby Deol?

Kashyap described *Bandar* as “a coming-of-age story of a man-child” who only realizes his mistakes near the film’s conclusion. When asked why he chose Bobby Deol for the lead role, the director said, “Bobby understands what it is to be a loser.”

### Release Details

As of now, there is no official release date announced for *Bandar* in India. Audiences can expect a thought-provoking narrative that delves into social media’s impact and the complexities surrounding justice in contemporary India.

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*Stay tuned for more updates on Anurag Kashyap’s *Bandar* and other upcoming films.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/anurag-kashyap-talks-about-bandar/story

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