Rahul Bhat on playing 'psychologically challenged' role in Kennedy: 'Eyes had to be still, the walk had to be straight'

Kennedy, the neo-noir crime thriller directed by Anurag Kashyap, is highly anticipated, with its digital premiere scheduled on ZEE5 on February 20, 2026. The film, starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, received significant attention and a 7-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Ahead of its direct-to-OTT release, Rahul Bhat shared experience of playing the 'psychologically challenged' lead role in the film. 

What was it like for Rahul Bhat to play the lead role in Kennedy?

During an interview with Filmfare, it was said that Kennedy (Rahul Bhat) was readable even when he was not saying things, and when asked how he achieved this, Rahul Bhat said, "I thought that it's basically the philosophy of any actor. It's not important about the lines like what I am saying but why and the emotions will come but it is the behavior that is very important."

"So I felt that while preparing for this role, I was aware that these are the high points of this character. He is so psychologically messed up and traumatised, so yeah, the stillness is very important for this character. The eyes had to be still, the walk had to be straight, although he is a very bulky kind of guy," he said. 

Also Read: Will delay in releasing Kennedy impact its relevance? Sunny Leone gives a clear answer

About Kennedy

Kennedy (2023) is a neo-noir thriller directed by Anurag Kashyap, starring Rahul Bhat as a guilt-ridden, insomniac ex-cop working as a hitman for corrupt police in Mumbai. The story follows his violent quest for redemption while haunted by his past, featuring Sunny Leone as Charlie.

Kennedy is an ex-cop thought to be dead, who lives in the shadows of Mumbai, operating as a hitman for a corrupt system. The film follows his journey through the dark underbelly of the city, where he becomes trapped in a "world of death," committing systematic murders while searching for a way out.

Kennedy, struggling with his conscience and insomnia, faces a violent and twisted path as the system he serves uses and eventually abandons him. Kennedy, struggling with his conscience and insomnia, faces a violent and twisted path as the system he serves is used and eventually abandoned by him. The movie is famous for its rough, artsy style, which features a mix of dark humor, slow-paced suspense, and a focused, character-driven narrative.

Meanwhile, Kennedy stars Rahul Bhat as Kennedy/Uday Shetty, Sunny Leone as Charlie, Mohit Takalkar as Commissioner Rasheed Khan, Abhilash Thapliyal as Chandan, Megha Burman as Anuradha, Shrikant Yadav as SI Abhijit Kaale, and Aamir Dalvi as Saleem Kattawala.

Kennedy FAQs

Q: Is Kennedy finally releasing in India?

A: Yes. Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy will be released on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) on February 20, 2026.

Q: Who directed Kennedy?

A: Kennedy (2023) is directed by Anurag Kashyap and is widely regarded as a compelling yet polarising neo-noir crime thriller.

Q: Who are the actors in Kennedy?

A: Kennedy stars Sunny Leone, Rahul Bhat, Mohit Takalkar, and others.