"The Bollywood guy is Anurag Kashyap"
Anurag Kashyap was reportedly mentioned in the newly released Epstein Files, prompting widespread debate.
The US Department of Justice released over three million documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Kashyap’s name appeared to be in email exchanges.
Referred to as the “Bollywood guy”, the emails were in correspondence between Epstein and other individuals, including Giuseppe Bersani, Gino Yu and Ornella Corazza.
The emails related to plans for workshops on Buddhism, technology and medicine.
Dr Gino Yu, a philosopher and scientist, mentioned Kashyap in an email to Professor Giuseppe Bersani, with Professor Ornella Corazza and Epstein copied in.
In an email dated April 13, 2017, and with the subject, “Re: Schedule and plan for Cuba”, it stated:
“The Bollywood guy is Anurag Kashyap, Mumbai Regisseur.”
An additional email from Dr Yu mentioned potential guests at the workshops, which included “a famous Bollywood director”.
Online reaction has been mixed, with some urging caution over drawing conclusions from names appearing in the documents.
One Reddit user wrote: “Is this Epstein’s files or Chitragupt’s accounting book? Everyone’s in there. Afraid someday my name may show up somehow.”
Another commented: “So many wealthy or influential people participated in Epstein’s criminal activities itself – that list is huge, let us go after them.
“Let us not go for those who were merely invited to these events.”
Although Anurag Kashyap’s name appeared to be in the email exchange, there is no suggestion that the filmmaker was involved in, or knew about Epstein’s crimes.
Reacting to the emails, Anurag Kashyap denied any involvement or association with Epstein or the events mentioned in the documents.
He said: “I’ve no clue about this. I get invitations as a speaker, about 15 a month. I rarely respond.
“Also, I have never been to Beijing in my life,” he added, referring to the alleged event location noted in the circulated files.
Commenting on the emails and the accompanying speculation, Kashyap added:
“It’s some random email, that’s self-explanatory. The clickbaits in my name are more popular than my films.”
Epstein later died in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The Epstein Files contain thousands of documents, including emails, text messages, images, videos and voice notes.
They reference numerous high-profile figures from politics, business and entertainment across several countries.
US President Donald Trump is mentioned multiple times in the documents, alongside tech figures including Bill Gates.
Several Indians also appear, including Anil Ambani, Nandita Das, Deepak Chopra, Hardeep Singh Puri and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Anil Ambani is among the most frequently referenced Indian figures, alongside Hardeep Singh Puri.
Their exchanges allegedly relate to seeking connections for projects linked to the Indian government.
The Centre has dismissed the Epstein Files references as “trash”.
Loading ...