Malayalam actor-director once told Anurag Kashyap he 'wasted two years' in Bollywood. What was the reason?

Basil Joseph, a well-known name in Malayalam cinema, once had big plans to step into Bollywood with a grand superhero project. The director, who won hearts with the 2021 hit Minnal Murali, was reportedly in discussions to direct Shaktimaan, a big-screen adaptation of the iconic Indian TV superhero. With Ranveer Singh rumoured to play the lead, the buzz around the film was high. But years later, the project has not moved forward, and Basil’s experience with the industry has left him with mixed feelings, Anurag Kashyap claimed. Filmmaker recently shared an interesting conversation he had with Malayalam actor-director Basil Joseph.

Why did Basil Joseph ask Anurag how he survived in Bollywood?

The two met at an awards function, where Basil opened up about his brief and challenging experience with Bollywood. According to Anurag, Basil spoke about how he had spent nearly two years trying to get the Hindi superhero film Shaktimaan off the ground. However, years later, the film has yet to take shape, and Basil reportedly felt that the effort and time he put into the project were "wasted" two years of his life.


Anurag recalled that during their chat at the Malayala Manorama Awards, Basil asked him how he managed to survive in an industry like Bollywood. The Malayalam filmmaker had faced multiple delays, roadblocks, and behind-the-scenes complications while working on Shaktimaan, which ultimately led to his frustration. The Gangs Of Wasseypur director claimed that Basil also talked about dealing with industry egos and constant power struggles that had clearly left him disappointed.

Though he shared these stories with a smile, Basil’s experience mirrored the same disillusionment that Anurag himself has felt over the years in Bollywood. Anurag admitted that he could relate completely. He shared that he, too, has struggled with the politics and lack of unity in the Hindi film industry. In fact, that’s one of the reasons he has started distancing himself from Bollywood and exploring opportunities in South cinema.

On Basil Joseph and Anurag Kashyap's work fronts

Basil, who became a household name after directing Minnal Murali in 2021, has since shifted his focus back to regional cinema. In recent months, he has appeared in Malayalam films like Ponman, and Maranamass, and is also working on Tamil film Parasakthi alongside stars like Sivakarthikeyan and Sreeleela.


Anurag Kashyap, too, is taking up more acting roles in the South. He was last seen in Rifle Club and has upcoming projects like Dacoit in Telugu and One 2 One in Tamil. As for Shaktimaan, once seen as a potential big-budget revival of an Indian superhero classic, the project appears to be in limbo. While there’s still curiosity around it, no official updates have been shared in a long time, leaving fans wondering whether the film will ever get made. Stay tuned for more updates!