Bobby Deol’s Best Performance Yet? Bandar Review — Anurag Kashyap’s Courtroom Thriller That Will Make You Question Everything You Think You Know

There are films that entertain. And then there are films that disturb you — in the most necessary, thought-provoking way possible. Bandar, directed by Anurag Kashyap and starring Bobby Deol in a career-redefining role, firmly belongs to the second category. This isn’t a comfortable watch. But it is absolutely a worthy one.

Bandar — Overview

What Is Bandar About?

The film follows Samar Mehra, a fading Bollywood star desperately clinging to his past glory. Just as he begins rebuilding his life and finds solace in a new relationship, a former girlfriend files a heinous allegation against him, dragging him into a vicious high-profile legal battle. The screenplay, by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, deliberately moves away from conventional Bollywood courtroom setups — instead plunging headfirst into the murky world of social media trials, warped public perception, and a sluggish judicial system where truth gets buried under endless layers of grey.

In an era where trial by social media has become a very real phenomenon, Bandar couldn’t feel more timely or relevant.

What Works Brilliantly

Known for his chaotic, raw energy, Anurag Kashyap takes a surprisingly mature and restrained approach here. He avoids sensationalizing the subject, choosing instead to focus on the psychological claustrophobia of the protagonist. The prison sequences in particular are exceptionally well-shot, creating a suffocating and raw atmosphere. The script also bravely sidesteps preachy black-and-white monologues, forcing audiences to confront their own biases about the digital judge-and-jury culture of today.

That restraint, coming from Kashyap of all directors, is what makes Bandar genuinely surprising.

What Doesn’t Quite Land

At nearly two hours and twenty minutes, the film feels noticeably weighed down in the second half, with a few subplots demanding too much patience and the narrative stretching thin. The film also deliberately refuses to take a definitive moral stance or offer a neat resolution — something cinephiles will appreciate, but mainstream viewers hoping for an emotional payoff may find frustrating.

This is a film that asks questions rather than providing answers. Whether that’s a strength or weakness depends entirely on what kind of viewer you are.

Performances: The Real Stars

Bobby Deol is the beating heart of Bandar. Stripping away the menacing villainy of his recent hits, he delivers a deeply vulnerable, understated performance, portraying Samar with a compelling mix of arrogance, confusion, and raw helplessness — proving his immense range as an actor.

Sanya Malhotra grounds her screen time with trademark reliability, while Saba Azad and Sapna Pabbi bring genuine nuance to roles that could easily have been sidelined. Jitendra Joshi is a complete scene-stealer, and Indrajith Sukumaran and Raj B Shetty deliver raw, show-stealing turns of their own.

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Conclusion

Bandar is an unsettling, morally complex thriller that refuses to spoon-feed its audience. While sluggish second-half pacing keeps it from being an absolute masterpiece, it is unquestionably worth watching for Bobby Deol’s spectacular performance and Anurag Kashyap’s gritty, thought-provoking storytelling.

If you go in expecting a typical Bollywood courtroom drama — you’ll be surprised. If you go in expecting Kashyap to make you uncomfortable and think — you’ll be rewarded. For more must-watch Bollywood content picks and weekend film guides, TechnoSports has you covered.

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