&w=3840&q=100)
Anurag Kashyap ditches Cannes for Toronto: TIFF to host world premiere of Bobby Deol starrer 'Bandar'
In a dramatic turn that has sparked chatter in the festival circuit, Anurag Kashyap has ditched his favorite Cannes choosing instead to premiere his next Film Bandar featuring Bobby Deol, Sanya Malhotra and others at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Apparently the Festival Managers at Toronto were keen that Kashyap's Film premiers coinciding with their 50th Anniversary. The film, boasts a stellar cast led by Bobby Deol, alongside Sanya Malhotra, Saba Azad, and Sapna Pabbi and is Produced by Nikhil Dwivedi.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The unexpected switch has many calling it the latest chapter in the ongoing 'Festival Wars', a rising trend where global festivals compete to bag premiere rights for highly potential films. While Cannes has long been considered the pinnacle of auteur-driven cinema, TIFF's growing global influence and audience reach have made it an increasingly strategic choice for filmmakers seeking both acclaim and visibility.
This shift also marks a significant moment for Bobby Deol, whose career renaissance continues to surprise audiences and critics alike. Fresh off the success of 'Animal', Bobby is said to be in an entirely new avatar in this film, raw, dark, and unlike anything he's done before.
'Bandar' is being described as a gripping drama with layered characters and hard hitting reality - typical of Kashyap's bold storytelling style. With powerhouse cast adding further depth to the narrative, the project has already started generating buzz as one of the must-watch Indian films at TIFF 2025, and expectations are sky high.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Indira Krishnan opens up about Ranbir Kapoor's transformation from Animal to Ramayana: ‘His dedication is 200%'
Actor Indira Krishnan, who played Ranbir Kapoor's mother-in-law in Animal, is now working alongside him again in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming mythological epic Ramayan. This time, she takes on the role of Kaushalya, Lord Ram's mother and she says the contrast in Ranbir's performance between the two films is nothing short of extraordinary. Actor Indira Krishnan discusses Ranbir Kapoor's transformation for his role as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayan in a new interview. Indira spills the beans of Ranbir shift from Animal to Ramayana In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Indira opened up about witnessing Ranbir's intense preparation and complete transformation into the divine character of Lord Ram. 'That boy has not only worked on his physicality, but the way his eyes talk—it is something else. Lord Ram's shoulders are very strong because he has to carry a bow and arrow so he worked on his shoulders and body. He would work out for 3-4 hours, and would come to sets early by 7 AM. After packing up, he would tell me about different kinds of workouts he would do to transform for the character. The dedication was 200 per cent," Indira said. Indira, who shared screen space with Ranbir in the gritty, violent world of Animal, said the shift in his body language and presence on the Ramayan set was remarkable. 'When I saw him first in Lord Ram's avatar, for a sequence where he's having a sandalwood ceremony, I was stunned. The way he sat, his stance, the calm in his eyes, his face—the ease with which he carried himself—I think it is the plus point of Ramayana. You can see the full contrast between the rowdiness of Animal and Ramayan's divinity. I am the only actor to witness it as an actor. He went into more of a discipline while working on Ramayana. He would stay in character even while talking to people," she added. About Ramayana Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is an ambitious cinematic retelling of the revered Indian epic. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, with Kannada star Yash portraying the formidable Ravana. Planned as a two-part saga, the project promises a visually spectacular and emotionally powerful narrative, blending mythological grandeur with modern storytelling. The first installment is scheduled to release on Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 in Diwali 2027. With a stellar cast and high production values, Ramayana is poised to become a landmark film.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Indira Krishnan sheds light on Ranbir Kapoor's extraordinary transformation from Animal to Ramayana: 'When I first saw him in Lord Ram's avatar...'
Ranbir Kapoor's dedication to his role as Lord Ram in Ramayana is noteworthy. Co-star Indira Krishnan praises his physical and emotional transformation. Kapoor underwent rigorous training for the role. The film Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, will release in two parts. Part one is slated for Diwali 2026. The film features Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, and Yash. From a rugged, violent gangster in Animal to the serene and divine Lord Ram in Ramayana, Ranbir Kapoor 's on-screen transformation has left co-star Indira Krishnan in awe. Reuniting with him for Nitesh Tiwari's mythological epic, Indira opens up about witnessing his incredible dedication, discipline, and the striking contrast between the two roles. Inside Ranbir's prep In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, the actress praised the actor's intense commitment to his role as Lord Ram in Ramayan. She revealed that he underwent rigorous physical training, focusing on building strength—especially in his shoulders—to match the divine character's stature. Beyond the physical transformation, Indira noted a striking change in his expressions, particularly in how he conveyed emotion through his eyes. She also mentioned that Ranbir maintained a strict workout regimen, arriving early on set and continuing his training even after wrap-up, reflecting what she described as an exceptional level of dedication. A scene that stunned Indira. who worked with Ranbir in Animal, said the transformation in his body language for Ramayan was remarkable. She recalled seeing him in a sandalwood ceremony scene, where his calm presence and composed posture reflected Lord Ram's grace. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Gorgeous Female Athletes Ranked. But Did We Get It Right? Learn More Undo She added that Ranbir stayed in character on set and adopted a more disciplined approach during the shoot. About Ramayana Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is an ambitious two-part cinematic retelling of the iconic Indian epic. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Kannada superstar Yash as Ravana. Promising a visually grand and emotionally rich experience, the project aims to blend traditional mythology with modern storytelling. The first installment of Ramayana is slated for release on Diwali 2026, with Part 2 set to follow in Diwali 2027. Backed by a stellar cast and grand production values, the film is poised to be a landmark cinematic event in Indian cinema.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Ranbir Kapoor is like ‘atta', he will come out as a ‘phulka' no matter how you mould him, says Ramayana co-star; recalls he stayed in Lord Rama's character on set
Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayana, where the actor is set to play Lord Ram, is scheduled to release in 2026 and while the makers have only released a teaser featuring the actor, another actor who stars in the film recently opened up about his work in the Nitesh Tiwari directorial. Indira Krishnan, who is going to play his mother Kaushalya in the film, also shared screen space with him in Animal, and in a recent interview, she shared that he completely transformed to play the role of Lord Rama. She shared that he stayed in character the whole time he was on set. Talking to Bollywood Bubble, Indira recalled her first day of shoot with Ranbir on Ramayana and shared that they were shooting for a scene where his upper body was to be covered in sandalwood paste. 'Ranbir has worked, not only on his physicality but even his eyes speak a different language. Like Lord Rama is supposed to have strong shoulders because he carries his bow and arrow, Ranbir has worked on his shoulders, his body. He would workout for 3-4 hours, and was always punctual on the set. After pack-up also, he would get back to working out. His dedication was 200 percent,' he said. Indira Krishnan then recalled the shoot of the sandalwood scene and added, 'I remember the first day, we were shooting for the sandalwood ceremony and the way he sat down, he sat like how one imagines Lord Rama to sit. How he positioned his upper body, his face, his eyes, it's not easy. Because his upper body was without any clothes, since in that scene Lord Rama was wearing just his dhoti. The kind of comfort level he brought in… And I think that is the plus point of Ramayana. You can see that contrast from Animal. The rowdiness that he had in Animal and to present the divine… was a complete contrast for Ranbir. And I am the only one who has seen that contrast. Even the way he interacted with people on set, he was in character.' ALSO READ | Mahavatar Narsimha director Ashwin Kumar on Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: 'We have a habit of projecting God onto actor…' Indira shared that she would like to 'give full points to Ranbir' and added that he would always sit by himself on Animal set as this was the demand of his character. 'When I met him on Animal, he had that thing in his eyes, you could see his character in his eyes and he would always be secluded on the set. He knows his job really well. The intensity that he brings to his work, I would rank him number one among all artistes,' she shared and added, 'He is like atta, you can mould him in whichever way and he will come out like a phulka.' Indira Krishnan also praised Ranbir Kapoor's conduct on set and shared that even though he has the aura of a star, he doesn't bring it with him like baggage. 'He is a very normal person. He never presents himself like a celebrity or like he is from the Kapoor family. He doesn't bring that aura but he naturally has an aura,' she shared. Ramayan also stars Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey among others. The film is said to have a budget of Rs 4000 crore, as per producer Namit Malhotra.
