Same school. Same college. Same industry. Yet brothers Abhinav Kashyap and Anurag Kashyap haven’t spoken in years. The sibling secret behind Bollywood’s most estranged filmmaker duo reveals a story of ego, ideology, and an irreparable rift that makes family dinners impossible.
Table of Contents
Abhinav Kashyap: Quick Profile
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Abhinav Singh Kashyap |
| Born | September 6, 1974 (Obra, Uttar Pradesh) |
| Age | 51 years |
| Profession | Director, Writer, Actor |
| Famous For | Directing Dabangg (2010) |
| Education | The Scindia School, Gwalior; Hansraj College, DU |
| Brother | Anurag Kashyap (renowned filmmaker) |
| Relationship Status | Not on speaking terms with Anurag |
| Notable Works | Dabangg, Besharam, Manorama Six Feet Under |
| Current Controversy | Public feud with Salman Khan |
The Brothers Who Grew Up Together But Grew Apart
Abhinav Kashyap recently broke his silence about the elephant in every room—his non-existent relationship with elder brother Anurag Kashyap. In a revealing interview with Bollywood Thikana, he opened up about their complicated dynamic, admitting they no longer speak despite sharing virtually identical life paths.
“It’s a personal matter between me and Anurag. It’s an emotional matter,” Abhinav Kashyap explained. “A lot of people don’t know this, but the two of us grew up together. We went to the same boarding school in Gwalior, then we went to the same college in Delhi University; we also came to Mumbai at around the same time.”
The brothers attended The Scindia School in Gwalior—one of India’s most prestigious boarding schools—before both studying at Delhi University. They even entered Bollywood’s chaotic world simultaneously, yet their journeys diverged dramatically.
What Broke the Bond?
Abhinav Kashyap revealed the breaking point with brutal honesty: his elder brother, Anurag, has physically disciplined him multiple times. “We know each other better than our own parents know us. We argue often. He’s older, and when he feels I’ve made a mistake, he has even raised his hand at me. He’s beaten me many times, but I can’t hit him back because he’s my elder brother.”
The final straw came when Abhinav Kashyap felt Anurag made a mistake. “The last time we spoke, I felt he was the one who had made a mistake, so I stopped talking to him. That’s it,” he stated matter-of-factly.
Despite the estrangement, Abhinav Kashyap maintains respect for his brother’s guidance. “He is also my guru, who has taught me everything I know. If I retaliate, my parents would feel bad,” he added, showing the complex emotional tangle of admiration, resentment, and family obligation.
Different Politics, Different Cinema
Anurag Kashyap previously addressed their relationship in an NDTV interview, confirming they operate independently. “My brother does not need me. Right from the beginning of our lives and our careers, it has been very clear that we will carve our own paths,” Anurag stated.
He emphasized their fundamental differences: “My brother thinks very differently. We have different political ideologies, we look at cinema differently.” Anurag also revealed Abhinav Kashyap explicitly told him, “Do not interfere in my business.”
The political divide runs deep. Anurag suggested their estrangement reflects broader societal fractures: “and my brother doesn’t agree with each other’s politics. That’s the amazing thing that this government has achieved—brothers don’t talk to each other, friends will fight.”
The Dabangg Success That Should Have United Them
Abhinav Kashyap achieved massive commercial success with his 2010 directorial debut Dabangg, starring Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha. The film became one of the highest-grossing movies of its time, launching the iconic “Chulbul Pandey” franchise. Yet success didn’t bridge the brotherly gap—if anything, it widened it.
While Anurag carved a niche with gritty, parallel cinema like Gangs of Wasseypur and Dev.D, Abhinav Kashyap pursued masala entertainers. As Abhinav once joked about their different territories: “When Anurag gets into masala films, then probably I will think of making his kind of cinema. We both brothers want to rule different areas of Bollywood. We are mafia. We don’t operate in each other’s area.”
Career Struggles and Salman Khan Controversy
Post-Dabangg, Abhinav Kashyap’s career trajectory hasn’t matched his debut. His 2013 film Besharam with Ranbir Kapoor flopped critically and commercially. He’s publicly blamed Salman Khan and his family for sabotaging his career after he refused to direct Dabangg 2.
In recent interviews, Abhinav Kashyap launched scathing attacks on Salman, calling him a “gunda” (goon), “badtameez” (ill-mannered), and claiming the actor hasn’t been interested in acting for 25 years. These allegations triggered legal action from the Khan family and created fresh controversy around the filmmaker’s career struggles.
Ironically, Salman Khan recently praised Anurag Kashyap’s film Nishaanchi on Instagram, which Abhinav Kashyap interpreted as strategic flattery to further divide the brothers.
The Brother Who Lived in the Shadow
Abhinav Kashyap once admitted to IANS: “I have always been compared to him, and I have always lived under his shadow. But with ‘Dabangg’ I was able to come out of it.” Despite that breakout success, he has struggled to replicate it, while Anurag continues to command critical and international acclaim.
The contrast couldn’t be starker: Anurag works with Netflix on original content, collaborates with major stars like Taapsee Pannu, and maintains a reputation as India’s indie cinema champion. Abhinav Kashyap, meanwhile, makes explosive allegations and hasn’t directed a film since 2013.
Where Things Stand Today
Abhinav Kashyap remains vocal about industry injustices he’s faced while maintaining silence with his brother. He’s also addressed false social media posts attributed to Anurag, clarifying: “I don’t know if he actually said this. But I don’t get upset over what Anurag says, because he’s my older brother.”
Despite years of estrangement, neither brother publicly attacks the other—they simply don’t acknowledge each other’s existence professionally or personally. It’s a cold war of silence rather than open hostility.
The Bottom Line
Abhinav Kashyap’s story is a cautionary tale about how success, ideology, and ego can fracture even the closest bonds. Two brothers who shared boarding school dorms, college lectures, and Mumbai dreams now lead parallel lives that never intersect—same industry, same city, zero contact.
Their estrangement raises uncomfortable questions about family, ambition, and whether professional success matters if it costs personal relationships. For Abhinav Kashyap, the price of independence from his elder brother’s shadow might be the relationship itself.
As Bollywood watches this silent sibling saga unfold, one thing’s certain: some distances can’t be measured in kilometers or years—only in words left unsaid.
What do you think caused the real rift between Abhinav Kashyap and Anurag Kashyap? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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