Anurag Kashyap reveals that reached out to Kennedy namesake Chiyaan Vikram for the film; says, “He never responded”
Anurag Kashyap recently attended the Festival De Cannes 2023 for the premiere of his film Kennedy starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone. However, the filmmaker recently revealed that the film was created with a specific actor in mind and it was none other than Ponniyin Selvan star Chiyaan Vikram. The South superstar is named Kennedy which was one of the prime reasons why he was being considered for the role.
In an interview with Film Companion during the ongoing Cannes Film Festival, Anurag Kashyap said, “I actually had a specific actor in mind, when I wrote this film. Which is why the film is called Kennedy”. He went on to continue, “Because that actor’s nickname is Kennedy. The film was called Kennedy Project. It is Chiyaan Vikram. Chiyaan Vikram’s real name is Kennedy. I reached out to him. He never responded.”
He later opened up about Ugly actor Rahul Bhat coming on board adding, “So then, I reached out to Rahul. I said ‘Read it’. His reaction, his response was enthusiastic. And not like as an actor. And he was like, ‘Yeh Kaun kar raha hai (Who is doing this role)?’ I said, ‘Karega (Will you do it)?’ He said ‘Me?’ I said, ‘Yes, but you will have to give it all’. And he was supposed to do some films. He gave eight months of his life to Kennedy.”
Kennedy is essentially a police noir film, by Anurag Kashyap featuring Rahul Bhat in the role of a cop turned assassin. The film revolves around an insomniac ex-cop, who is assumedly dead but continues to operate for the corrupt system. It is written and directed by Anurag Kashyap and is produced by Zee Studios, Ranjan Singh & Kabir Ahuja. The film will be screened at Midnight Screening category on May 24.