Kennedy on OTT: From Rahul Bhat's quiet rage to Sunny Leone's transformation, 5 reasons to watch Anurag Kashyap's darkest noir

Anurag Kashyap’s neo-noir Kennedy hits ZEE5 on Feb 20, 2026. After global acclaim at Cannes, Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone lead this gritty, pandemic-set thriller about corruption and a "dead" ex-cop.

Rahul Bhat in a still from Kennedy

The neo-noir thriller Kennedy by Anurag Kashyap is finally about to make its way to a large domestic audience after three years of touring international film festivals. On February 20, 2026, the film will have its premiere on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium). Since its premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023, the film starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone has continued to be one of the most talked-about unreleased Indian films.

What is making Kennedy a major talking point for critics?

The film's unconventional production history and break from traditional criminal filmmaking are the key points of discussion among critics and audiences as the OTT release date draws near.

Here are five reasons to tune in to ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) this Friday to watch Kennedy.

ALSO READ: Kennedy trailer: Anurag Kashyap unleashes Rahul Bhat as a lethal insomniac hitman; Sunny Leone joins the dark world

How does Kennedy mark Anurag Kashyap’s return to his roots?

Black Friday Ugly, and Raman Raghav 2.0 are just a few of Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed works that contributed to the "noir" subgenre in India. Following his more experimental works of late, Kennedy represents a return to this specific narrative form. Corruption, institutional decay, and moral uncertainty are the prisms through which the film examines Mumbai's seedier side.

Kennedy deviates from the norm of hero-driven plots found in traditional police procedurals. Instead, the focus shifts to the criminal underworld and the "grey" aspects of police work. Through the use of black comedy and graphic violence, Kashyap critiques societal structures within the neo-noir paradigm. This approach is the director's best way of expressing himself, according to those who have watched his work.

What went into Rahul Bhat’s intense physical transformation?

Uday Shetty, aka Kennedy, is played by Rahul Bhat, who has worked with Kashyap on Ugly and Dobaaraa before. A corrupt system employs this character, a disgraced ex-cop, as a hitman even though he is technically dead on paper. Bhat reportedly gained 18 kg of muscle to play a character who is both physically formidable and psychologically vulnerable, undergoing a dramatic physical metamorphosis to prepare for the job.

An atmosphere of "quiet rage" permeates the film, and Bhat convincingly conveys the weariness and frustration felt by Kennedy, who suffers with insomnia. With very few lines to work with, the actor must portray a range of complicated emotions, including guilt, survival instinct, and psychopathic tendencies. The film's core anchor, according to festival critics, is Bhat's performance, which they have praised as the actor's career best.

Does Sunny Leone’s casting break her established screen image?

Many people were sceptical when they heard that Sunny Leone would be playing Charlie in the film Kennedy. This marks a departure for the actor from the commercially successful and glitzy parts that have predominated throughout her career. The story revolves around Charlie, the female protagonist, as she becomes entangled in a web of high-stakes corruption.

Interviews with director Kashyap have revealed that Leone's casting was based on her ability to convey the role's necessary air of mystery and vulnerability. Reportedly, the performance was subdued, with an emphasis on Charlie's inner turmoil rather than on the showy outside. The filming of Kennedy occurred at the very end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the story incorporates this reality into its atmosphere. Leone, who is usually seen in commercials, gives viewers an opportunity to witness her in a controlled, character-driven dramatic role that questions her established public image.

How does the film utilise Mumbai’s pandemic-era isolation?

The film emphasises feelings of alienation and urban deterioration by showing the deserted streets of Mumbai during lockdowns. Narrative devices include the need for masks, the existence of sanitisation protocols, and the pervasive paranoia that pervaded the lockdown.

The pandemic backdrop mirrors the protagonist's personal feeling of invisibility and creates a unique visual style characterised by desolate nocturnal vistas. Kennedy, who is "legally dead," thinks the mask-wearing pandemic world is an ideal place for a ghost to roam. This film captures a rare and underexplored moment in Mumbai's history, setting it against a particular historical backdrop that lends it a time-capsule aspect.

What global accolades has Kennedy earned so far?

Kennedy has a stellar reputation all around the world, which is a major selling point. The film's midnight screening at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival ended with a seven-minute standing ovation. The technical skill of the film has been praised at the Sydney Film Festival, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival since then.

Among the many lauded technical aspects of the film are Sylvester Fonseca's cinematography and the score, which features the Prague Philharmonic Choir. To add to its already stellar reputation among movie buffs, Kennedy was the lone Indian film chosen to debut on Letterboxd's Video Store at the end of 2025.

Will the domestic release of Kennedy live up to the international hype?

The ZEE5 premiere marks the first chance for the general Indian public to see if the critical praise is justified after years of restricted festival access. Kennedy is a change from the high-octane action flicks that are currently dominating the Indian OTT scene. The film is a psychological study that prioritises character and setting over conventional storylines. In its direct-to-digital debut on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium), the film aims to reach viewers who value the gloomier, more cynical aspects of Indian cinema.

Kennedy FAQs:

Q: What is the OTT release date for Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy?

A: Kennedy is scheduled to premiere on the streaming platform ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) on February 20, 2026. This marks its official domestic debut after a three-year run at international film festivals.

Q: Who plays the lead role in the movie Kennedy?

A: The titular character, an insomniac ex-cop named Uday Shetty (alias Kennedy), is played by Rahul Bhat. This marks his third collaboration with Anurag Kashyap, following Ugly (2013) and Dobaaraa (2022).

Q: Why is the movie titled Kennedy?

A: The title, Kennedy is a nod to Tamil superstar Chiyaan Vikram, whose real name is Kennedy John Victor. Anurag Kashyap originally wrote the script with Vikram in mind; although the casting changed, the director decided to keep the name as the protagonist's alias.

Share