‘Chale Jao’: Chhaava Director Slams Anurag Kashyap For Criticising Hindi Cinema

Chhaava director Laxman Utekar has taken a strong stand against Anurag Kashyap’s recent comments about quitting Bollywood. In a no-holds-barred chat on Mama’s Couch, Utekar called out the Gangs of Wasseypur filmmaker for criticising Hindi cinema and blaming audiences for not accepting his films.

Reacting to Kashyap’s claim about stepping away from the industry, Utekar said bluntly, “Chale jao chod kar, beshak chale jao, jisko nahi rehna, chale jao koi zabadasti nahi kar raha hai.” 

He added, “You have to be mentally and creatively happy, then only we can make a great… agar aapka mann nahi hai yahan rehne ka toh aap great film kaise banaoge?”

Utekar then addressed Anurag’s repeated jibe that today’s audience lacks the sensibility to understand his cinema. He shared, “Woh galat bol rahe hai jab woh kehte hai ki audience ko sensibilities nahi hai unki film accept karne ki… balki unki sensibility nahi hai audience ka taste accept karne ki.”

He pointed to the massive success of films like Baahubali, RRR, Pushpa, and his own Chhaava as proof that cinema is alive and kicking. Utekar feels that the filmmaker is stuck in past. He said, “Sensibility aapki change honi chahiye kyunki aap wahin par aatke huye ho,”

According to Utekar, the audience isn’t the problem, it's the mindset of certain directors that needs an upgrade. He said the film industry evolves every few years, and filmmakers must learn to keep up. He stressed that creators should focus on stories that connect with real people, especially the working and middle-class audiences who fill up theatre seats.

He also took a dig at those who call their films “too deep” for the masses. Utekar suggested, “If you think the story is misunderstood, write a book instead. No one asked you to start a revolution. Just entertain people.”

In an earlier interview with The Hindu, Anurag Kashyap said, “I want to stay away from film people. The industry has become too toxic.” He criticised the chase for Rs 500 or Rs 800 crore success and claimed creativity is getting lost. Kashyap has since shifted his base to the South in hopes of a fresh start.

While this debate stirs the film world, Utekar’s Chhaava is doing the talking at the box office. Featuring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yasubai, and Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb, the film raked in Rs 807 crore globally. That makes it the biggest Hindi hit of the year.

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