Anurag Kashyap: 'Nishaanchi was the film that I, at one point, wanted to make with Sushant Singh Rajput'

Summary:

• Anurag Kashyap initially planned to cast Sushant Singh Rajput in Nishaanchi, but the actor prioritized other films and eventually stopped responding.

• Despite interest from other actors, Anurag waited for the right fit and moved on to projects like Mukkabaaz.

• Sushant’s tragic passing in 2020 impacted their professional connection, but Anurag remains committed to bringing Nishaanchi to life.

Anurag Kashyap is gearing up to release his next film, Nishaanchi. The late actor Sushant Singh Rajput was involved with the project in its early stages, and the filmmaker discussed them in a recent interview with Galatta Plus.

Sushant Singh Rajput's early involvement with Nishaanchi

Anurag revealed that he had initially planned to make Nishaanchi with Sushant. He stated, "This was the film that I, at one point, wanted to make with Sushant. And then he got two very big films – Dil Bechara and Drive – they were both with Dharma earlier. Then my film was on a backburner, and then I was also… Then he stopped responding, so I moved away. It was announced with him back in 2016."

According to the filmmaker, the script had been on the radar of various actors for some time, but none had "hit home" with it until now. Even if it has piqued the interest of actors, Anurag has never felt it truly connected with anyone. He assured himself that he would make the right decision.

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Sushant Singh Rajput's rise to stardom

MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), Sushant's biggest hit, catapulted him to stardom and accelerated his climb in Bollywood. Hasee Toh Phasee, which was produced by Anurag's production house, was one of the actor's earlier projects that the filmmaker remembered him leaving.

Back in 2020, Anurag told NDTV, "YRF called him and said, 'We'll give you a deal. You do Shuddh Desi Romance.' Sushant, who used to sit in my office with Mukesh (Chhabra) and all of us used to sit together, signed up with YRF and dropped Hasee Toh Phasee, a film of an outsider, because usko YRF ka validation chahiye tha (he wanted validation from YRF). It’s with every actor, so I am not holding any grudges."

Nishaanchi script and missed connections

He went on to discuss the events leading up to the release of MS Dhoni: The Untold Story and how he felt Sushant ignored him thereafter in the Nishaanchi timeline. Anurag recalled, "Years later, in 2016, before the release of MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Mukesh went to Sushant and said, 'Anurag has written a script looking for an actor who can play someone based out of Uttar Pradesh.' Dhoni was released and became a success and he never called me back. I was not upset; I moved on. I did Mukkabaaz."

Sushant passed away by suicide in June 2020 at his Mumbai residence. Anurag’s reflections on their professional interactions highlight both the challenges and unpredictability of working in the film industry, and his commitment to bringing Nishaanchi to life remains undeterred.

FAQs:

Q: Was Nishaanchi originally supposed to star Sushant Singh Rajput?

A: Yes, Anurag Kashyap initially announced Nishaanchi with Sushant Singh Rajput back in 2016. However, Sushant later stopped responding after signing films with Dharma Productions, and the project was put on hold.

Q: Why did Sushant Singh Rajput back out of Anurag Kashyap’s films?

A: Sushant reportedly prioritized bigger offers from major production houses. Anurag explained that Sushant signed with Yash Raj Films for Shuddh Desi Romance and later worked on Dharma Productions projects, leading him to step away from films like Hasee Toh Phasee and Nishaanchi.

Q: When did Sushant Singh Rajput pass away?

A: Sushant Singh Rajput passed away in June 2020 at his residence in Mumbai.