Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has confirmed that he has left Bollywood and Mumbai, citing disillusionment with the Hindi film industry.

“I’ve left Mumbai,” he told The Hindu in a recent interview, adding that that he recently paid the first rent of his new house.

Although Kashyap did not officially disclosed his new location, a source told the publication that the filmmaker has likely relocated to Bangalore. He also shared that he recently paid the first rent for his new home, marking his departure from Mumbai.

“I want to stay away from film people. The industry has become too toxic. Everyone is chasing unrealistic targets, trying to make the next ₹500 or ₹800 crore film. The creative atmosphere is gone,” he told The Hindu.

Kashyap has long been vocal about his disappointment with Bollywood. In an earlier interview with ‘The Hollywood Reporter India’, he spoke about his frustration with the industry's increasing focus on commercial viability over artistic expression. “The joy of filmmaking is sucked out. Right from the beginning, before the film starts, it becomes about ‘how do we sell it?’ That’s why I want to move out. Literally, next year, I’m moving out of Mumbai,” he had said.

Despite stepping away from Bollywood, Kashyap remains active in cinema. He is currently promoting ‘Footage’, a Malayalam film presented by him and directed by Saiju Sreedharan. The Hindi version of the film is set to release on March 7, 2025. Additionally, he will be seen in ‘Dacoit’, a bilingual Hindi-Telugu film starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur.

Kashyap's departure highlights growing concerns about Bollywood’s evolving landscape, where big-budget spectacles dominate and creative risks take a backseat. Whether his move signals a broader shift for filmmakers seeking artistic freedom outside Mumbai remains to be seen.