Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has spoken out against what he describes as India’s growing obsession with the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, saying the true purpose of the event is being ignored.
Speaking in an interview, Kashyap said many people in India treat Cannes mainly as a glamour event rather than a film platform.
The Satya director added that the red carpet is the “least important” part of Cannes, stressing that the focus should remain on films and storytelling.
He also shared that he personally avoids the spotlight at the festival, saying, “hum log side se chale jaate hain,” meaning he usually enters quietly instead of posing for cameras.
Criticism of India’s festival participation
Kashyap also claimed that many Indian attendees at the Cannes market are not actually there to watch films.
This year, only two Indian films were officially selected at Cannes, including Shadows of the Moonless Night and the restored classic Amma Ariyan.
He blamed delays in production and poor planning for India’s limited presence at international film festivals.
According to Kashyap, misinformation in the industry and hesitation among producers often lead to missed festival deadlines.
As a result, many films lose the opportunity to compete on global platforms like Cannes.
Despite the criticism, Indian celebrities continued to make headlines on the red carpet this year.
Alia Bhatt appeared multiple times as a brand ambassador for L'Oréal Paris, while Urvashi Rautela and Tara Sutaria also attended various festival events.
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