Pankaj Jha, known for his roles in Anurag Kashyap’s films Gulaal and Black Friday, recently starred in Jitendra Kumar’s show, Panchayat. The actor has accused Anurag Kashyap of breaking a promise regarding a role in the acclaimed film Gangs of Wasseypur.
The Controversial Claim by Pankaj Jha
In a recent interview, Pankaj Jha alleged that Anurag Kashyap had initially promised him the role of Sultan in Gangs of Wasseypur, which eventually went to Pankaj Tripathi. Jha expressed his disappointment and called Kashyap “spineless” for this decision. He believed that this role could have significantly boosted his career, similar to how it did for Tripathi.
Anurag Kashyap’s Response
Responding to the accusations, Anurag Kashyap clarified the situation in an interview with India Today. He mentioned that Jha was unapproachable at the time of shooting. Kashyap recalled, “I don’t remember what exactly happened. But we were shooting for The Girl in Yellow Boots and he had moved to Osho in Pune to paint. We were supposed to start shooting for Gangs of Wasseypur and he was not available. We were on a tight budget and could not wait for him.”
Kashyap’s Relationship with Pankaj Jha
Anurag Kashyap emphasized that he had a good working relationship with Pankaj Jha and had frequently collaborated with him in the past. “I have worked with him, and he has actually been my go-to actor. We worked in Gulaal and Black Friday. I would love to work with him again, but the fact is, he is not accessible at all,” said Kashyap.
Anurag Kashyap’s Film Journey
Anurag Kashyap made his directorial debut with Paanch, which was never released. Despite the setback, he gained recognition with Black Friday, although it faced delays due to its controversial subject matter. Kashyap’s subsequent films like Gulaal, Dev D, and the Gangs of Wasseypur series cemented his place in Indian cinema. His crime thriller series Sacred Games, based on Vikram Chandra’s novel, achieved international success on Netflix.
Anurag Kashyap is set to play antagonistic roles in the web show Bad Cop, alongside Gulshan Devaiah, and in Vijay Sethupathi’s Maharaja. His upcoming directorial venture, Kennedy, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, showcasing his continued influence in the film industry.