When Kennedy Actor Abhilash Thapliyal pranked Anurag Kashyap

Up and coming actor Abhilash Thapliyal is riding high on the wave of success as two of his exceptional films, Blurr and Kennedy, will be taking center stage at the prestigious Film Festival of South Asia in Toronto. This achievement marks yet another milestone in his flourishing career and underlines his versatility as an actor.

About working with Anurag Kashyap Abhilash shared, “When it comes to my experience working alongside Anurag Kashyap, I can’t help but express my profound affection and admiration for Anurag Sir. He consistently offers unwavering support to his actors, both on and off the camera. I truly consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to be under his guidance. Even prior to my involvement in Kennedy, there was a memorable incident when I visited the sets of Dobaaraa where Anurag Sir was directing Taapsee and Pavail. I had just met him a day prior to this incident, and I decided to playfully approach him as a fan. This playful act led to some confusion with the security, and Anurag Sir joined in on the fun by pretending not to recognize me. It took me intervening to reveal my true identity to the security personnel and both Anurag Sir and I laughed over this banter. I greatly appreciate his approachability and down-to-earth nature. Back then, I couldn’t have imagined that our paths would cross again and next thing I know is I’m being directed by him in Kennedy.”

Abhilash Thapliyal, known for his remarkable performances and dedication to his craft, is no stranger to the spotlight. His journey in the entertainment industry has been nothing short of remarkable, with each project adding a layer of depth to his repertoire. Speaking about his experience,  Abhilash expressed his gratitude for being directed by esteemed filmmakers, including Ajay Bahl and Anurag Kashyap, saying, “I have just started, and it gives me a lot of confidence to choose stories that I relate to and experiment with my skills.”

Kennedy was recently premiered at the Canned film Festival, reflecting on his journey from humble beginnings, Abhilash added, “Never mind the idea of going to Cannes; I couldn’t even fathom becoming an actor at one point. My Mumbai dream was to be a part of the Kapil Sharma Show, which, hilariously, never materialized. Fast forward, I’ve strolled down the illustrious Cannes red carpet, an experience that felt utterly surreal. I’m yet to receive invitations for Indian award shows, but I am glad my debut was on an international stage at Cannes, and it was a truly enchanting experience. I’m hopeful that this is just the beginning of many such moments.”

Despite his growing stature in the industry, Abhilash Thapliyal remains grounded and continues to audition for roles. He acknowledges the directors who have recognized his versatility and talent, including Anurag Kashyap, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, Navdeep Singh, Ajay Bahl, and Amit Sharma. Abhilash Thapliyal’s contributions to the world of OTT platforms have not gone unnoticed. His roles in projects like Aspirants and SK Sir ki class (which recently won the Asian Academy Creative Awards) have garnered immense love from the audience. Speaking about the much-anticipated Aspirants 2, he said, “Hopefully, people will get to see Aspirants 2 before the end of 2023.”

Looking forward to the future, Abhilash Thapliyal is excited about his next project, Maidaan, where he will be portraying a character that aligns with his ‘RJ’ skills. He is also collaborating with Navdeep Singh, of NH10fame, on another intriguing OTT project. The fourth and final season of the TVF series Hostel Daze is now streaming live on Amazon Prime and Abhilash is seen in a special appearance in the series. Also following the critical acclamation received at Cannes, he eagerly anticipates the Indian release of Kennedy.