Anurag Kashyap is a celebrated Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and actor.
He was born on September 10, 1972 (53 years old) in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
He works mainly in Hindi cinema and is known as one of the boldest and most influential voices of new-age Indian cinema.
Anurag started his career as a co-writer on Ram Gopal Varma’s crime drama Satya (1998). He made his directorial debut with the unreleased film Paanch, and later got wider recognition with Black Friday (2004), a film based on the 1993 Mumbai bombings.
He went on to direct acclaimed films like No Smoking (2007), Dev D (2009), Gulaal (2009), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Ugly (2014), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), and Mukkabaaz (2018). He also co-created the Netflix series Sacred Games (2018).
Anurag is a four-time Filmfare Award winner. In 2013, the Government of France honoured him as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Quick Facts of Anurag Kashyap
| Full Name | Anurag Singh Kashyap |
| Birth Name | Rinku Singh |
| Profession | Filmmaker (Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor) |
| Age | 53 years old |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1972 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Birthplace | Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Current Address | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Gender | Male |
Anurag Kashyap Early Life and Education
Anurag Kashyap was born in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, into a middle-class Rajput family. His birth name was Rinku Singh, which was later changed to Anurag Kashyap.
His father, Sri Prakash Singh, was a Chief Engineer at the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited and was posted at Obra Thermal Power Station. Due to his father’s job, Anurag grew up in various cities like Varanasi, Saharanpur, and Gorakhpur.
From a very young age, Anurag was drawn to films and would watch Hindi classics like Kora Kagaz and Aandhi at a nearby film club.
Education
Anurag did his primary schooling at the Hillgrange Preparatory School in Dehradun. From the age of eight, he studied at the prestigious Scindia School in Gwalior.
He moved to Delhi for higher studies, as he originally wanted to become a scientist. He enrolled at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, and graduated with a degree in Zoology in 1993.
His passion for cinema took shape during this period after he watched a Vittorio De Sica retrospective at the International Film Festival of India.
| School | Hillgrange Preparatory School, Dehradun;Scindia School, Gwalior |
| Alma Mater | Hansraj College, University of Delhi |
| Highest Qualification | Graduate (B.Sc. Zoology) |
Anurag Kashyap Personal Life
Anurag Kashyap is one of the most candid voices in Bollywood when it comes to love and relationships. He has been married twice and is also known for his open conversations about heartbreak, fatherhood, and second chances.
Girlfriend
Anurag Kashyap has been in a long term relationship with Shubhra Shetty, an assistant director associated with Phantom Films. They reportedly started dating around 2015 and confirmed their relationship publicly in 2018.
Shubhra studied mass communication at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. She has assisted on Anurag’s projects like Choked (2020) and is known to share a quiet and private bond with him.
Past Relationships
Anurag was first married to film editor Aarti Bajaj in 1997. The two share a daughter together. They got divorced in 2009 but have remained close friends and frequent collaborators.
He later married actress Kalki Koechlin in 2011, after the two met during the making of Dev.D (2009). Their marriage ended in divorce in 2015, but they are also on cordial terms today.
Children
Anurag has one daughter, Aaliyah Kashyap, born from his first marriage with Aarti Bajaj. Aaliyah is a popular digital content creator and YouTuber based in Mumbai.
She got married to her longtime partner Shane Gregoire on December 11, 2024, in Mumbai. The couple also held a Christian wedding on June 7, 2025, to honour Shane’s culture.
Parents
Anurag’s father is Sri Prakash Singh, a retired Chief Engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited. He was posted at the Obra Thermal Power Station in Sonbhadra district.
Information about his mother is not publicly known in detail, so it is yet to be updated.
Siblings
Anurag has two younger siblings, both connected to the film industry.
His brother Abhinav Kashyap is a director and screenwriter, best known for directing the blockbuster Dabangg (2010) starring Salman Khan. Abhinav is also an alumnus of Scindia School and Hansraj College like his elder brother.
His sister Anubhuti Kashyap is a director who worked as an assistant on many of Anurag’s films. She made her directorial debut with Doctor G (2022), a medical campus comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh, Shefali Shah, and Sheeba Chaddha.
| Relationship Status | In a relationship |
| Girlfriend | Shubhra Shetty |
| Ex Wives | Aarti Bajaj (1997 to 2009), Kalki Koechlin (2011 to 2015) |
| Children | Daughter: Aaliyah Kashyap |
| Parents | Father: Sri Prakash Singh Mother: Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Brother: Abhinav Kashyap Sister: Anubhuti Kashyap |
Anurag Kashyap Career
Anurag Kashyap is one of the most prolific filmmakers of modern Hindi cinema. He has worked as a screenwriter, director, producer, and actor, with films that have travelled to top international festivals like Cannes, Toronto, and Locarno.
Early Career as a Writer (1997 to 2003)
Anurag Kashyap started his career as a screenwriter for the Zee TV series Kabhie Kabhie (1997). He soon got his major break by co-writing Ram Gopal Varma’s cult crime drama Satya (1998), which won him the Star Screen Award for Best Screenplay.
In 1999, he wrote and directed his first short television film, Last Train to Mahakali (1999), starring Kay Kay Menon and Nivedita Bhattacharya. He also directed his debut feature Paanch around 2003, starring Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, and Tejaswini Kolhapure, though it never got a theatrical release.
Directorial Breakthrough (2004 to 2009)
Anurag’s first released feature was Black Friday (2004), based on the 1993 Bombay bombings. The film starred Kay Kay Menon, Pavan Malhotra, Aditya Srivastava, Kishor Kadam, and Zakir Hussain.
In 2007, he directed the surreal thriller No Smoking (2007), starring John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal, and Ranvir Shorey. In 2009, he released two landmark films, Dev.D (2009) starring Abhay Deol, Mahie Gill, and Kalki Koechlin, and the political drama Gulaal (2009) starring Kay Kay Menon, Mahie Gill, Abhimanyu Singh, and Deepak Dobriyal.
Rise as an Indie Auteur (2011 to 2013)
In 2011, he directed That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011), starring Kalki Koechlin, Naseeruddin Shah, and Prashant Prakash.
In 2012, he delivered his most acclaimed work, the two-part crime epic Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) and Gangs of Wasseypur 2 (2012). It starred Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadha, Reema Sen, Huma Qureshi, Piyush Mishra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Pankaj Tripathi.
He also co-directed a segment of the anthology Bombay Talkies (2013), alongside other directors. Around this time, he co-produced acclaimed films like Udaan (2010), The Lunchbox (2013), Shahid (2012), and Masaan (2015).
Mainstream Experiments (2014 to 2016)
In 2014, he released the thriller Ugly (2014), starring Rahul Bhat, Ronit Roy, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Vineet Kumar Singh, Girish Kulkarni, and Surveen Chawla.
In 2015, he made his most ambitious project, the period noir Bombay Velvet (2015), starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar, and Kay Kay Menon. The film opened to mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office.
In 2016, he returned to his indie roots with Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), inspired by the real-life serial killer Raman Raghav. It starred Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vicky Kaushal, and Sobhita Dhulipala.
Boxing Drama and Streaming Era (2018)
In 2018, he directed the sports drama Mukkabaaz (2018), starring Vineet Kumar Singh, Zoya Hussain, Ravi Kishan, and Jimmy Shergill.
The same year, he made Manmarziyaan (2018), a romantic drama starring Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, and Vicky Kaushal.
He also co-created and co-directed Netflix India’s first original series Sacred Games (2018), based on Vikram Chandra’s novel. It starred Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, and Pankaj Tripathi. The series earned an International Emmy Award nomination.
Pandemic Era Projects (2020 to 2022)
In 2020, he directed the Netflix drama Choked (2020), starring Saiyami Kher, Roshan Mathew, Amruta Subhash, and Rajshri Deshpande.
The same year, he co-directed a segment in the Netflix anthology Ghost Stories (2020). He also appeared as himself in the meta thriller AK vs AK (2020), starring opposite Anil Kapoor.
In 2022, he directed the time loop thriller Dobaaraa (2022), starring Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati.
Recent Films (2023 to 2025)
In 2023, he directed Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat (2023), starring Karan Mehta, Alaya F, and Vicky Kaushal in a special appearance.
The same year, he premiered Kennedy (2023) at the Cannes Film Festival. It starred Rahul Bhat, Sunny Leone, Abhilash Thapliyal, and Mohit Takalkar.
In 2025, he directed the two-part crime drama Nishaanchi (2025) and Nishaanchi Part 2 (2025), starring Aaishvary Thackeray, Vedika Pinto, Monika Panwar, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Vineet Kumar Singh.
Acting Career
Apart from direction, Anurag has acted in many films. He played the antagonist Selvam in the Tamil thriller Maharaja (2024), opposite Vijay Sethupathi, Mamta Mohandas, Abhirami, and Natty Subramaniam. The film became a massive critical and commercial success.
He also appeared in the Tamil action film Leo (2023), starring Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, and Trisha Krishnan. His other acting projects include Haddi (2023) with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kuttey (2023) with Arjun Kapoor and Tabu, and Imtihaan (2024).
Recent Releases and Upcoming Work
Anurag’s latest directorial Bandar (Monkey in a Cage) was released in cinemas in June 2026. The film stars Bobby Deol, Sanya Malhotra, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, and Indrajith Sukumaran. The film had earlier premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
On the acting front, Anurag was last seen in the Telugu and Hindi action drama Dacoit: A Love Story (2026), opposite Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, where he played a tough police officer.
He has hinted at two new scripts that are ready and aims to start shooting them in 2026. He has also backed the short film Aakhri Ride (The Last Ride) as a producer, which features Chandan Roy, Aamir Dalvi, and Faisal Malik.
Anurag Kashyap Awards and Achievements
Anurag Kashyap is one of the most decorated filmmakers of modern Indian cinema. He has won four Filmfare Awards and received recognition at major festivals like Cannes, Locarno, Toronto, and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. He has also been honoured by the French Government and the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
His major wins
- Star Screen Awards (1999): Won Best Screenplay for Satya (1998), shared with Saurabh Shukla.
- Star Screen Awards (2000): Won Special Jury Award for Last Train to Mahakali (1999).
- Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (2005): Won Grand Jury Prize for Black Friday (2004).
- Filmfare Awards (2011): Won Best Story for Udaan (2010), shared with Vikramaditya Motwane.
- Filmfare Awards (2011): Won Best Screenplay for Udaan (2010), shared with Vikramaditya Motwane.
- Filmfare Critics Award (2011): Won Best Film for Udaan (2010), as producer.
- Asia Pacific Screen Awards (2012): Won Jury Grand Prize for his direction of Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
- Filmfare Awards (2013): Won Best Dialogue for Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), shared with Akhilesh Jaiswal, Sachin K. Ladia, and Zeishan Quadri.
- Filmfare Critics Award (2013): Won Best Film for Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
- Order of Arts and Letters (2013): Honoured as a Knight (Chevalier) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France.
- Filmfare Awards (2015): Won Best Film (Critics) for Queen (2014), shared with Vikramaditya Motwane.
- Yash Bharti Award (2016): Honoured by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for his contribution to cinema.
His key nominations
- Locarno International Film Festival (2004): Nominated for the Golden Leopard for Black Friday (2004).
- Filmfare Awards (2013): Nominated for Best Director for Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
- Asian Film Awards (2013): Nominated for Best Director for Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
- BAFTA Awards (2014): Nominated for Best Film Not in the English Language for The Lunchbox (2013), as co-producer.
- Filmfare Awards (2017): Nominated for Best Film for Udta Punjab (2016), as co-producer.
- Asia Pacific Screen Awards (2016): Nominated for Achievement in Directing for Psycho Raman / Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016).
- International Emmy Awards (2019): Nominated for Best Drama Series for Sacred Games (2018), as co-creator and director.
Anurag Kashyap Controversies
Anurag Kashyap is one of the most outspoken voices in Indian cinema, and his career has been marked by several public controversies. Most of them are tied to his films, his political opinions, and his fights with the censor board.
Black Friday censorship battle (2004 to 2007): Anurag’s directorial debut, Black Friday, faced a two-year hold-up by the Central Board of Film Certification because of the pending court verdict on the 1993 Bombay bombings. The film was finally released in February 2007 after the Supreme Court allowed it.
Udta Punjab CBFC row (2016): As co-producer of Udta Punjab, Anurag took on then CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani, who demanded 89 cuts and wanted “Punjab” removed from the title. Anurag moved the Bombay High Court, which ruled in his favour and allowed the film with just one cut.
Phantom Films dissolution and Vikas Bahl row (2018): In October 2018, Anurag, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl, and Madhu Mantena dissolved their company Phantom Films after sexual harassment allegations surfaced against Bahl. Anurag faced backlash for allegedly not acting on the complaint earlier, while Bahl filed a defamation suit of ₹100 million against him and Motwane.
Payal Ghosh MeToo allegations (2020): In September 2020, actress Payal Ghosh accused Anurag of sexually assaulting her in 2013 and filed an FIR at the Mumbai Police. Anurag publicly denied the allegations, calling them “baseless, malicious and dishonest”. His ex-wives, Aarti Bajaj and Kalki Koechlin, along with several actors, came out in his support.
Income Tax raids (March 2021): In March 2021, the Income Tax Department raided the homes and offices of Anurag Kashyap, Taapsee Pannu, Vikas Bahl, and others linked to Phantom Films and Reliance Entertainment. Opposition parties alleged the raids were politically motivated to muzzle dissenting voices.
Brahmin remark and Phule film row (April 2025): While defending the film Phule, on which he was associated, Anurag made a strongly worded comment about the Brahmin community on social media that triggered widespread outrage. FIRs were filed against him in Jaipur and Raipur, his family received rape and death threats, and a Brahmin group announced a ₹1 lakh bounty for anyone who blackens his face. Anurag later issued two public apologies.
Bollywood exit row (2024 to 2025): Anurag’s public statements about leaving Bollywood and moving to South India drew strong reactions. He called Mumbai’s film industry “toxic” and said the joy of filmmaking had been “sucked out” by the obsession with margins and stardom, which polarised opinions online.
Anurag Kashyap Net Worth
Anurag Kashyap’s net worth has not been officially declared by him or his team. Because of this, most figures available online are estimates.
His estimated net worth is around ₹130 crore to ₹850 crore (approx. $16 million to $100 million), with a wide range depending on the source. His main income comes from film direction, production, screenwriting, OTT projects, acting fees, and brand endorsements.
He reportedly earns around ₹6 crore per month from films and his various business and production ventures.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | ₹130 crore to ₹850 crore (approx. $16 million to $100 million) |
| Salary (Approx.) | Approx. ₹6 crore |
Anurag Kashyap Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | In centimetres: 180 cm In meters: 1.80 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 11 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 84 kg In lbs: 185 lbs |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
Anurag Kashyap Social media
 @anuragkashyap10 | |
| X |  @anuragkashyap72 |
Interesting Facts about Anurag Kashyap
- His birth name is Rinku Singh, which was later changed to Anurag Kashyap during the Emergency in India.
- He arrived in Mumbai in 1993 with just ₹5,000 in his pocket and spent his early days sleeping on streets, beaches, and at St. Xavier’s College boys’ hostel before finding work at Prithvi Theatre.
- He once watched 55 films in just 10 days at the International Film Festival of India in 1993, and Vittorio De Sica’s Italian classic Bicycle Thieves (1948) is the film that pushed him to take up filmmaking.
- It was actor Manoj Bajpayee who introduced Anurag to Ram Gopal Varma, which led to him co-writing the cult classic Satya (1998).
- He is openly an atheist and once said in an interview, “Cinema is the only religion I believe in.”
- He serves as a board member of Aangan Trust, a Mumbai-based NGO that works to protect vulnerable children across India.
- He founded Anurag Kashyap Films Private Limited in 2009 and later co-founded Phantom Films in 2011. In 2019, he co-founded another production house called Good Bad Films with partners Akshay Thakker and Dhruv Jagasia.
- His hobbies include writing, swimming, and listening to music.
- In March 2024, he made headlines after announcing on Instagram that he would charge ₹1 lakh for a 10 to 15-minute meeting, ₹2 lakh for half an hour, and ₹5 lakh for an hour to meet aspiring actors and filmmakers.
FAQs
What is Anurag Kashyap’s age?
He is 53 years old. He was born on September 10, 1972, in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
What is Anurag Kashyap famous for?
He is best known for directing films like Black Friday (2004), Dev.D (2009), Gulaal (2009), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Ugly (2014), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), and the Netflix series Sacred Games (2018).
Is Anurag Kashyap married?
No, he is currently unmarried. He has been married twice in the past, first to film editor Aarti Bajaj and later to actress Kalki Koechlin.
Who is Anurag Kashyap’s girlfriend?
He has been in a long-term relationship with assistant director Shubhra Shetty since around 2015.
Who is Anurag Kashyap’s daughter?
His daughter is Aaliyah Kashyap, a popular digital content creator. She was born to Anurag and his first wife, Aarti Bajaj.
What is Anurag Kashyap’s real name?
His birth name is Rinku Singh. It was changed to Anurag Kashyap during the Emergency in India.
Has Anurag Kashyap won any National Award?
He has not won a National Film Award himself, but films he has produced like Udaan (2010) and Queen (2014) have won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
Why did Anurag Kashyap leave Bollywood?
He announced in 2024 to 2025 that he was leaving Mumbai for South India, citing the toxic and profit-driven culture of the Hindi film industry and a lack of creative freedom.
