Not Ranbir Kapoor: Anurag Kashyap reveals 'Bombay Velvet' was originally written for Ranveer Singh

Director Anurag Kashyap has shared a fresh behind-the-scenes revelation about his 2015 film Bombay Velvet, stating that the movie, which starred Ranbir Kapoor, was originally written for Ranveer Singh, and that the casting shift occurred due to studio intervention.

In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Kashyap explained that while developing the story, he envisioned the lead role of a jazz musician and gangster, Johnny Balraj, with Ranveer Singh in mind. However, he said, “Everybody sold it on Ranbir Kapoor’s name,” suggesting that the film’s producers and the studio pushed for Ranbir, then one of Bollywood’s biggest bankable stars, to be attached to secure funding and distribution.

Kashyap, known for his gritty, auteur-driven films and willingness to speak candidly, emphasised that his creative intent and the industry’s commercial priorities didn’t always align. He said that although Ranbir ultimately did the role and brought his own strengths to it, the original conception was tied to Singh’s persona and acting style.

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He said, “Because, you know, when you write something thinking of one actor and then have to work with another, it takes time. Ranbir himself is a great actor, there was no issue there. It was just me wrapping my head around the fact that I had to work with a different actor. And it was terrific. Ranbir’s commitment was terrific. He is literally a dream actor to work with. Once I wrapped my head around that, we started working, and it was a terrific time to create the film."

Bombay Velvet, set in mid-20th-century Bombay and marked by its neo-noir aesthetic, was a high-profile project that generated significant buzz before its release. However, despite its ambitious scale and star power, the film was a box-office disappointment at the time and has since developed a reputation as a cult curiosity rather than a mainstream hit.

In fact, the reception of the film affected Anurag Kashyap deeply. “With Raman Raghav, then Sacred Games later on, I wanted to get away from Bombay. I didn’t want to make films in Bombay. The thing is, there are so many stories of Bombay that remain untold, and I have them inside me. But what happened in Bombay Velvet at the box office, I think, it has scarred me for life," he shared in the same interview.

Ranveer Singh’s name emerging as the original choice adds an interesting “what if” layer to Bombay Velvet’s legacy, particularly considering his rise to stardom in the years after the film was made. Fans and critics have speculated that the film might have landed differently, both in tone and reception, had it been anchored by Singh’s intense and unpredictable screen presence. Kashyap’s candid revelation merely fuels that speculation.