Mumbai: After a prolonged wait, Kennedy, directed by Anurag Kashyap and starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, finally premiered on ZEE5 on Friday, February 20. The critically acclaimed film had earlier made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 and went on to be screened at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival the same year.
Its Mumbai screening, held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, received a thunderous response from more than 1,000 attendees, cementing its reputation as one of Kashyap’s most awaited projects in recent years.
Why Vijay Sethupathi and Javed Akhtar were thanked
In the end credits of Kennedy, audiences noticed that Vijay Sethupathi and Javed Akhtar were mentioned under the ‘Special Thanks’ section. While Kashyap had earlier hinted at Sethupathi’s mention, he had not revealed the reason at the time.
In an exclusive conversation, Anurag Kashyap clarified the matter. “Vijay made some edit suggestions into the film,” he said, explaining that the Tamil star had contributed creatively during the post-production stage.
Regarding Javed Akhtar’s inclusion, Kashyap shared that an earlier version of the film had featured a dialogue written by the veteran lyricist and screenwriter. “Earlier, we had used a dialogue from Javed Saab. But later, it got edited,” he said. Despite the dialogue not making the final cut, the makers chose to acknowledge Akhtar’s contribution.
A creative bond beyond Kennedy
Kashyap also spoke about his association with Vijay Sethupathi during an event hosted by The Hindu in May 2025. He revealed how Sethupathi played a role in convincing him to accept an acting assignment in the 2024 Tamil film Maharaja.
Reflecting on the period after Kennedy, Kashyap said, “After Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018), I said no to a lot of South films because every other day, a South film would come to me. It started post-Kennedy. I was in the post-production of Kennedy. I was constantly meeting Vijay Sethupathi at my neighbour’s.”
He added that Sethupathi strongly recommended the story of Maharaja to him. “He said there’s this amazing story, and they’ve been trying to reach you. I said no first. Then he helped me find something in Kennedy. He has a ‘Thank You’ card in Kennedy. Then I couldn’t say no to him,” Kashyap recalled.
In a light-hearted moment, Kashyap shared that he had jokingly told Sethupathi about financial commitments, including his daughter’s wedding. “I said, ‘Listen, I have to get my daughter married next year, and I don’t think I can afford it.’ Then Vijay Sethupathi said, ‘We’ll help you.’ And Maharaja happened,” he said with a laugh.
From festival acclaim to digital release
Kennedy had garnered significant attention since its premiere at Cannes in 2023, where it was screened in the Midnight Screenings section. The film’s moody storytelling and stylised treatment drew critical appreciation, particularly for Rahul Bhat’s performance.
Its screening at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival further amplified anticipation, especially given the enthusiastic reception at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. However, despite festival acclaim, the film’s theatrical release faced delays, making its arrival on ZEE5 highly anticipated among cinephiles.
Conclusion
With its digital release now complete, Kennedy has found a wider audience beyond festival circuits. Anurag Kashyap’s revelations about Vijay Sethupathi’s editorial inputs and Javed Akhtar’s dialogue contribution offer fresh insight into the collaborative process behind the film.
The acknowledgements in the ‘Special Thanks’ section underline how cinema often thrives on creative exchanges that may not always be visible on screen but leave a lasting imprint on the final product.
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