4th June 2023,Mumbai: Renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, known for his exceptional contributions to Bollywood, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a poignant throwback in remembrance of the day he first set foot in Bombay. June 3, 1993, marked a pivotal moment in his life when he arrived at Dadar station, as he recalled in his post.
Accompanied by a photo of the Punjab Mail train, Anurag penned a heartfelt caption delving into his three-decade-long expedition through the bustling city of Mumbai. “On June 3, 1993, the rain welcomed me at Dadar Station, and little did I know that Bombay’s monsoon season stretched out so generously. I vividly remember taking my maiden local train ride from Dadar to Andheri, to meet a friend who had arrived from Delhi before me,” he reminisced.
Anurag went on to reveal how this very friend became the inspiration behind Ranbir Kapoor’s character in Imtiaz Ali’s seminal film “Rockstar.” “He, who became the muse for @imtiazaliofficial’s most special creation ‘Rockstar’,” he continued in the caption. “I received encouragement from Jaggu and Imti to embark on my journey to Mumbai, but after they enrolled at @sxcbom for mass communication studies, I have been charting my own path. I am immensely grateful to this city, its people, and the countless memories it has bestowed upon me. #karmbhoomi”
Anurag’s poignant message evoked numerous responses and comments from his followers. Actor Arjun Kapoor contributed a poem titled “Punjab Mail to Sangam Mail,” while one admirer wrote, “Thank you Anurag and Company for elevating the standards of Bollywood.” Another fan expressed, “And within just five years, you transformed Indian cinema.” A follower added, “From Janambhoomi to Karambhoomi – The journey of Dreams.”
Anurag Kashyap made his writing debut with the 1998 film “Satya,” co-written by Ram Gopal Verma. His directorial debut, “Paanch,” unfortunately never graced the silver screen. However, he went on to helm remarkable films such as “Black Friday,” “No Smoking,” “Dev. D,” “Gulaal,” and the celebrated “Gangs of Wasseypur” series. His most recent film, “Kennedy,” featuring Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat, received a thunderous seven-minute standing ovation upon its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
-by Kashvi Gala