Anurag Kashyap Shares Why He Gave Sunny Leone Videos of Anushka Sharma, Raveena Tandon Laughing

Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap, who is all set for the midnight screening of his film Kennedy at the Cannes Film Festival, recently spoke to film critic Anupama Chopra about casting Sunny Leone for the film. In the conversation, he revealed why he had given Sunny Leone videos of Anushka Sharma and Raveena Tandon laughing. Here are some interesting highlights from the conversation:

The Audition Process

Anurag Kashyap revealed that he had never seen any of Sunny Leone’s films but he saw her interviews before casting her in Kennedy. Talking to Anupama Chopra, he said, “I have never seen her film, I have seen her interviews and she is not just smart, she’s an awesome woman”.

Talking about Sunny Leone’s auditioning process, he said, “I asked her for an audition and she said yes. She just was so happy and overwhelmed with it.”

Preparing for the Audition

When Sunny Leone asked the director how she should prepare for the audition, Anurag Kashyap asked her to see videos of Raveena Tandon and Anushka Sharma laughing. Explaining the reason behind it, Anurag Kashyap told Anupama Chopra, “I gave her videos of Anushka Sharma and Raveena Tandon when they laugh. They are only two people I know who laugh wholeheartedly. Because whatever be the circumstances, she (the character) laughs it off, that’s her only defense and she (Sunny Leone) worked on it.”

Kennedy at Cannes

Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy is headed to the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival. The film will be showcased under the Midnight Screenings section of the prestigious film gala. This is not the first time Anurag Kashyap’s movies have made it to Cannes:

Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) was screened at the 2012 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.

His anthology film Bombay Talkies premiered under Special Screenings at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

His thriller Ugly was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation.

With this year’s screening, Anurag Kashyap adds another feather in his cap at the Cannes Film Festival.