Anurag Kashyap Recalls People 'Showing Up' At His House: 'I'm Dealing With A Lot Of My Own Sh*t'

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has opened up about his recent health issues, saying he has been “extremely sick.” He said that many people seeking his advice haven’t respected his time and energy. In March, Kashyap announced on social media that he was tired of mentoring untalented people and decided to start charging a consultancy fee. In an interview with Humans of Cinema, the filmmaker explained the reason behind his viral post. He clarified that it wasn’t aimed at filmmakers but was meant to keep “faaltu log” from wasting his time.

Opening up on what he went through in the past two years, he said, “What people are not aware and they don’t ask, is what zone are you in. I have gone through two and a half years of extreme sickness, dependency on medicines, I have gone through my whole phase of depression. In a phase like that, you have to prioritise yourself first. So, if I am not physically, mentally, emotionally healed…. If you see my interviews of last years, you will see it is on my face how unwell I was. Even then people come and ask you to read their script.

Anurag shared that people often started “showing up” at his house without any notice. He remembered an incident where a stranger rang his doorbell and said, “I want to show you my film.”

Anurag continued, “I didn’t even know him, I told him I might watch it if I feel like, if I have the time but he said, ‘No sir you don’t understand, my father passed away.’ Par mujhe dukh nahi laga. I said I am sorry your father passed away, but does it mean that I have to watch your film right now? Because I am dealing with a lot of my own sh*t. You have not come here after asking for my time, you just randomly ended up at my door. People would often call me from random numbers or make a powerful person call me, so that I watch their work, cast them or guide them.”

“It reached a point where I thought if I keep doing this, when will I write my scripts, find my peace and work? I will give my time on something I fully trust, where I see the other person has always worked hard for it. If I have enabled four films, I have also survived 400 terrible films. When I had the capacity, I would do it, but not anymore. My first priority is I, me myself. I need to fully fix myself, I am in a much better, healthier place. Just let me be for two years, get my energy level and then I will support again. My cup is half empty, what will I make you drink? I myself am thirsty now,” he added.