Basic Details

Anurag Kashyap is a filmmaker who changed Indian cinema with his bold storytelling, gritty realism, and fearless experimentation. As a director Anurag Kashyap has pushed boundaries in style, theme, and narrative. Born on 10 September 1972 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, Kashyap’s journey hasn’t been a straight path — early struggles, censorship battles, and his own vulnerabilities shaped him into the visionary he is today.

From co-writing Satya to directing cult hits like Gangs of Wasseypur and Dev.D, this Anurag Kashyap biography will cover his family, rise to fame, movies list, controversies, personal life, and what continues to make him one of the most influential voices in modern Indian cinema.

Physical Stats and More

Biography

Anurag Kashyap’s early life was rooted in literature, music, and exposure to different parts of India, thanks to his family moving around. He attended Hillgrange Preparatory School, Scindia School, and later Hansraj College. Despite academic disruptions, he gravitated toward cinema.

He co-wrote Satya (1998), which became a landmark crime film. His directorial debut was Paanch, which faced censorship issues and was never released theatrically. But that did not deter him. Black Friday (2004) based on the 1993 bombings, though delayed, established him as a filmmaker unafraid of controversy.

His style evolved: Dev.D (2009) reimagined Devdas for modern India, Gulaal (2009) explored political power, and Gangs of Wasseypur (Part 1 & 2, 2012) became a defining epic of crime families and revenge.

He also ventured into producing films like The Lunchbox (2013), which was internationally acclaimed, and web series such as Sacred Games.

Relationships & More

Career

• Paanch (Unreleased) – directorial debut that ran into censorship issues.
• Black Friday (2004) – based on real events; established his reputation.
• No Smoking (2007) – experimental, mixed response.
• Dev.D (2009) – modern retelling of Devdas; critical and commercial success.
• Gulaal (2009) – socio-political drama.
• That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011) – more personal, character-driven.
• Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1 & 2 (2012) – crime epic; international recognition.
• Ugly (2014), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Mukkabaaz (2017), Manmarziyaan (2018) – diverse narrative styles.
• Upcoming / Recent Projects: Kennedy, Nishaanchi, Bandar (2025) among others.

Other Details

Contributions Beyond Work

Anurag Kashyap is not just a director. As a producer, writer, actor, he has helped launch many indie filmmakers. He co-founded Phantom Films (before it dissolved) to support offbeat cinema. His work in web series (Sacred Games) expanded the landscape of digital content in India. He has also been honored internationally — in France, for his contributions to arts and culture.

The Legacy of Anurag Kashyap

Anurag Kashyap’s legacy is built on risk — in content, form, and distribution. From Dev.D to Gangs of Wasseypur, he redefined what Hindi cinema can be. His films by Anurag Kashyap have inspired a generation of filmmakers to be bold and sincere.

Other Facts:

• He has admitted to battling depression, health issues, etc., especially related to anxiety and lifestyle.
• Family includes his daughter Aaliyah Kashyap from his first marriage with Aarti Bajaj. He was later married to Kalki Koechlin (divorced).
• Anurag is known for being vocal on censorship, creative freedom, boundaries of mainstream vs indie cinema.