Anurag Kashyap explains why Vijay Sethupathi and Javed Akhtar appear in ‘special thanks’ credits of Sunny Leone starrer ‘Kennedy’

After circulating across global festivals for over a year, Anurag Kashyap’s noir drama ‘Kennedy’, featuring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, premiered digitally on February 20. The film had earlier made waves at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 and later drew a roaring reception at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival screening held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, where a packed audience responded enthusiastically.

Why does Vijay Sethupathi appear in ‘special thanks’?

Long before the release, Kashyap had hinted that Vijay Sethupathi would be acknowledged in the credits. The filmmaker has now clarified the mystery, explaining that the Tamil star played a behind-the-scenes role during post-production. “Vijay made some edit suggestions into the film,” Kashyap revealed, crediting the actor’s creative input in shaping the final cut.

The story behind Javed Akhtar’s mention

Legendary writer Javed Akhtar also finds a place in the ‘Special Thanks’ section, not for new material, but for something that didn’t survive the final edit. Kashyap explained, “Earlier, we had used a dialogue from Javed Saab. But later, it got edited.” Despite the line being removed, the filmmaker retained the acknowledgment out of respect for Akhtar’s contribution.

In an event hosted by The Hindu in May 2025, Kashyap shared another interesting anecdote linking Sethupathi to his career. He revealed that after ‘Imaikkaa Nodigal’, he had declined numerous offers from the South industry. However, frequent meetings with Sethupathi during the post-production of ‘Kennedy’ eventually changed his mind.

Recalling the turning point, Kashyap said Sethupathi passionately pitched a script 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.”

The filmmaker added with a laugh that personal circumstances also played a role: “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 (laughs).”

About 'Kennedy'

‘Kennedy’ is a brooding neo-noir crime drama helmed by Anurag Kashyap. The story revolves around Uday Shetty, played by Rahul Bhat, a sleep-deprived ex-policeman presumed dead who secretly operates as an assassin for a compromised police chief. Set against the bleak backdrop of pandemic-hit Mumbai, the narrative traces his violent path toward redemption and payback, with Sunny Leone delivering a striking turn as the mysterious Charlie.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”