Anurag Kashyap Says Filmmakers Don’t Seek Validation from Reviews Anymore: ‘Only a Few Reviewers Are Respected’

Anurag Kashyap Says Filmmakers No Longer Seek Reviews for Validation, Backs ‘Stolen’ for Its Strong Content.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has joined hands with Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, and Nikkhil Advani to support debutant director Karan Tejpal’s thriller Stolen, which recently premiered on Amazon Prime Video. In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Kashyap opened up about backing the film and shared candid views on the shifting dynamics in Bollywood.

On Supporting ‘Stolen’
Kashyap emphasized that the true strength of Stolen lies in its storytelling, not just the big names supporting it. “Us being there helps because we all come from very different thoughts of filmmaking. If all four of us are backing one film, it speaks volumes and helps it reach a diverse audience,” he said.

He also reflected on how beneficial such support could have been during the early years of his career. “I wish I had that when I was starting out. Imagine Gulaal, Black Friday, or Paanch getting such collective backing—it would’ve made a big difference,” Kashyap added.

On Trust Deficit in Bollywood
Co-producer Nikkhil Advani pointed out the rising distrust among audiences due to practices like paid reviews. Kashyap agreed, noting that the credibility gap exists on both sides. “Audience doesn’t trust anything anymore—and neither do filmmakers. Earlier, we would look at reviews from critics we respected for validation and joy. Now it doesn’t matter. Only a handful of critics still command respect,” he said, adding, “Gine chune 4-5 reviewer hain jinki respect hai.”

On ‘Stolen’ and the Future
Stolen, starring Abhishek Banerjee, has received praise for its tight narrative and gripping storytelling. Its critical acclaim underscores the importance of content-driven cinema, a sentiment Kashyap and his fellow producers clearly believe in.

The film is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.