Cannes shows Bollywood has huge market abroad: Anurag Kashyap

By Ruchika Kher

Mumbai There's a huge market abroad that is open to Indian films and it's not just non-resident Indians (NRIs), says Anurag Kashyap whose production "Udaan" was screened at the Cannes film festival.



He also dismisses speculation that he has always wanted only Aamir Khan in his next directorial venture.

"Cannes was a big learning experience for me. After going there, I realised that the film market is so huge. I also realised that we should not think that only the NRI audience will see our films abroad that we make our films accordingly. There are many other markets out there that are open to Indian films," Kashyap told IANS in an interview.

Kashyap's "Udaan" was shown in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes this year. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, it is the coming-of-age story of a teenaged boy who returns to his hometown of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, after being left at a boarding school for eight years by his father.

Starring Ronit Roy and Rajat Barmecha in the main leads, "Udaan" is slated to hit the Indian screens July 16.

When asked why he decided to produce it, Kashyap said: "I loved the script a lot. I had told Vikram if no one produces it, you come to me, I will do so.

I finally did it."

So now when he has tried both - direction and production - what does he enjoy more? "Any day direction. That's my passion. In fact, if I had a chance, I would have directed 'Udaan' too, but ...