Image was shared by Vikram. (courtesy: the_real_chiyaan)

Director Anurag Kashyap is gearing up for the premiere of his movie Kennedy on the Cannes Film Festival. The film, which stars Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat, will premiere on Wednesday. But do you know Rahul Bhat was not the primary selection for Kennedy? The director, in a dialog with Anupama Chopra, revealed he needed Chiyaan Vikram to play the titular function within the movie. He mentioned, “I actually had a specific actor in mind when I wrote this film. Which is why the film is called Kennedy.” 

Anurag Kashyap added, “Because that actor’s nickname is Kennedy. The film was called Kennedy Project. It is Chiyaan Vikram. Chiyaan Vikram’s real name is Kennedy. I reached out to him. He never responded. So then, I reached out to Rahul. I said ‘Read it’.” Talking about Rahul Bhat’s response,  Anurag Kashyap mentioned, “His response, his response was enthusiastic. And not like an actor. And he was like, ‘Yeh Kaun kar raha hai [Who is working on this project?]’ I mentioned, ‘Karega [Are you interested?]’ He mentioned ‘Me?’ I mentioned, ‘Yes, however you’ll have to give all of it’. And he was alleged to do some movies. He gave eight months of his life to Kennedy.” 

On Rahul Bhat’s physical transformations, Anurag Kashyap said, “Because Rahul is a skinny man. He bulked up for it. He grew a beard. I mentioned ‘You should be sleepless’. And he did not sleep at night time till one and a half months later. After that, he pulled himself via it. After that, he grew a beard and appeared unhygienic. And that is once I mentioned you’re doing the function. His devotion, his sincerity, his whole give up to the function was unimaginable.”

Kennedy will be showcased under the Midnight Screenings section of the prestigious film gala. Before this, Gangs of Wasseypur, directed by Anurag Kashyap, was screened at the 2012 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. Next, Bombay Talkies premiered under Special Screenings at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, Ugly was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section and received a standing ovation.