Indian actor Rahul Bhatt has praised director Anurag Kashyap, calling him a genius who teaches everything to his actors without formal training. Bhatt expressed gratitude for having Kashyap as his mentor, crediting him for recognizing his talent in the 2013 film “Ugly.” He highlighted the significance of their recent collaboration in the film “Kennedy,” which premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival and received international acclaim.
Discussing his role in “Kennedy,” Bhatt revealed the intense preparation, including practicing scenes like peeling apples with a knife repeatedly. He emphasized the impact of the character on his personal well-being, leading to moments of depression due to the challenging nature of the role.
Bhatt, who considers himself a method actor, shared that he acts primarily for his directors, not the audience. He acknowledged the influence of renowned director Sudhir Mishra, stating that their film “Das Dev” (2018) was dedicated to Mishra. Bhatt also mentioned his current projects, including the film “Black Warrant” based on the book by Sunil Gupta, and “Made in Kashmir,” a dark comedy involving Hollywood actors.
Reflecting on his career, Bhatt discussed taking a ten-year break after the film “Section 375” (2019) and using that time to understand cinema better. He expressed a desire to work with diverse filmmakers and acknowledged the challenges of collaborating in mainstream Bollywood.
Regarding the Al Ghunaa Film Festival in Egypt, Bhatt emphasized its importance in promoting humanity amidst the shadows of conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war. He quoted Russian theatre practitioner Stanislavski, stating that an actor should be a good human first. Bhatt concluded by asserting the priority of humanity over religion or any divine force.
