Anurag Kashyap has remained in the spotlight following the theatrical release of Bandar. Despite receiving positive reviews from critics, the film failed to generate strong box office numbers. Industry discussions suggested that limited screen availability may have affected its commercial performance.
The filmmaker recently sparked another debate by claiming that Obsession was allotted more screens than Bandar. According to his argument, the greater theatrical presence of Obsession may have contributed to the underwhelming performance of his film.
The comments quickly triggered reactions on social media. Several users criticised Anurag Kashyap, pointing to earlier instances where he had praised Hollywood cinema and compared Hindi films with international content standards.
Many users argued that theatres generally allocate shows based on audience turnout and occupancy levels. They suggested that Bandar may not have generated sufficient footfalls, prompting exhibitors to prioritise Obsession, which reportedly continues to attract viewers and compete with other major releases.
At the same time, some supporters backed Anurag Kashyap’s stance. They argued that Indian audiences increasingly favour Hollywood films over domestic productions, contributing to the struggles faced by several Bollywood releases in recent years.
Trade experts, however, offered a different perspective on the issue. According to them, Bandar’s financial performance was significantly affected by its reported budget of nearly Rs. 25 crores. They felt that a film of this nature could have been produced on a much smaller budget, potentially changing its box office outcome.
The debate has also raised questions about theatre programming decisions. Despite reports suggesting that Bandar received better reviews and occupancy than Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, its show count did not witness a major increase. It remains to be seen whether the ongoing discussion will influence exhibitors to allocate more screens to the film.
