Renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has released the captivating teaser for his upcoming feature film “Kennedy,” offering audiences a first glimpse into the intriguing world of the title character. Portrayed by Rahul Bhat, Kennedy is a former police officer plagued by insomnia, which leads him to operate primarily at night. From the teaser, it becomes apparent that Kennedy not only suffers from sleeplessness but also derives pleasure from taking lives. The brief preview also introduces Sunny Leone’s character, Charlie, who assumes the role of the femme fatale in this dark noir drama.
Anurag Kashyap took to Instagram to share the teaser with his followers, posing the question, “Bataaaa…kitna maza aaya…yeh teaser dekh ke?!” (Tell me, how much fun did you have watching the teaser?). “Kennedy” by Anurag Kashyap is set to premiere at the prestigious Festival de Cannes on May 24, followed by the Sydney Film Festival. The one-minute-fourteen-second trailer showcases Rahul Bhat as Kennedy, silently navigating through the night as he eliminates his targets. A voiceover in the teaser cryptically asks, “Bataa… Kitne qatal kiye tune. Bataa… kitna mazaa aaya. Behisab, chal hi raha hai, toh apne laash ki keemat lagata chal. Kyunki baaki raha to kuch aur, kuch bhi nahin” (Tell me… how many people did you kill? Tell me… how much did you enjoy it? Unaccountable, it has been going on, so now you have to pay for these crimes. Because now, nothing else is left).
Sunny Leone’s character, Charlie, makes her appearance towards the end of the teaser when she steps into an elevator with Kennedy. Her brief laughter upon seeing him adds to the mysterious atmosphere. Prior to this, an unseen man confronts Kennedy, demanding to know his identity by exclaiming, “Who are you? You tell me, what’s your name?” Anurag Kashyap’s daughter, Aliyah Kashyap, enthusiastically commented, “Too goooood” accompanied by a fire emoji, while filmmaker Zoya Akhtar expressed her admiration with “Supreme” and a smiling face with a red heart emoji. Vasan Bala, a former assistant director to Kashyap, simply stated, “Khatarnak” (Deadly).
“Kennedy” will be showcased out of competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival later this month, specifically in the Midnights Screening Section. Alongside Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, the film also features Mohit Takalkar, Abhilash Thapliyal, and Megha Burman.
Anurag Kashyap revealed in a statement that the genesis of “Kennedy” dates back to his time as a writer for Sudhir Mishra, who shared stories of a maverick police officer. Inspired by a real-life incident during the lockdown, Kashyap melded Mishra’s cop character with the event, resulting in the birth of Kennedy. He described the process as one of those instances where an idea suddenly strikes and is relentlessly pursued until fully developed. Kashyap expressed gratitude for finding collaborators who shared his passion for the project, allowing it to come to fruition.