Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy is set in Mumbai, after dark. The neo-noir setting, that rekindles the style of classic thrillers of the 50s, complete with chases, seductive female character and understated grey characters.
If you have watched the trailer, the star cast of Rahul Bhat (who plays Uday Shetty) and Sunny Leone (who plays Charlie) are up and about the city, once Bombay, and since, the city that never sleeps.
And if you have a foodie mind like ours, you are mentally making a note of what places will be open for an after-shoot snack: From Bade Miyan and Ayubs for Mughlai and rolls, to Bachelors and Amar Juice Centre, or the bhurji pav and tawa pulao lining the streets, as the curtains draw at night-time, the city is perfumed with typical flavours and aromas.
Team Kennedy Got Mumbai Food Cravings at Midnight
The cast, along with Director Anurag Kashyap, have been known to savour the city’s local eats. Kashyap, who has nurtured a flair for documenting Bombay nostalgia in his movies – often giving the city the importance of a character in his films, allowing it to set narratives in raw captures and frames – loves his vada pav and missal pav.
When the conversation lands on favourite food, midnight spots after a shoot, Kashyap prefers a drink. “Any of the bars that are still open. That helps me unwind,” he says. For Leone, it’s home: “I’ll tell you what mine is. It’s Casa La Weber. I’ve tried Misal Pav once. My stomach was on fire!” At 2 am, both would reach out for a savoury snack. While Kashyap would dig a street food plate, Leone prefers to order 5-star room service. “I’m scared of what comes from street food at 2 am.”
Kashyap wittily responds, “All you’ll get is an upset stomach, that’s it.” “Yeah, then who goes to work the next day? No one. You know who sees the work? Your toilet!” Leone banters on.
While Kashyap tends to eat less on night shoots, Leone likes to munch. “Why is it that we get hungrier at night? If we are not sleeping, then we get hungrier.”
“Because that’s just when metabolism is peaking,” Kashyap adds. Work stress drives food cravings differently from person to person. Kashyap loses appetite in stress, Leone gets hungrier. “I don’t do stress eating because my only go-to food when I’m stressed is smash burgers, which are not available everywhere. Try Nino Burgers,” he recommends.
For Bhat, pack up for day or night, he craves a dosa at Matunga, Vada Pav in Dadar, and breakfast in any of the Udipi. “Mumbai has so many options. For those who like sweets, kulfi is a must-try. For me, I’ll enjoy street food as well as a five-star buffet. There is a mood for all food cravings,” he says, adding, “The one thing I like breaking a food rule for is Shreeji’s pav bhaji and paneer pakoda in Oshiwara. Also, the pav bhaji in Parle East.”
What Would Kennedy Say
Bhat, who underwent a six-month body transformation for his film, says if Kennedy, the film character, were real, he’d at hang out at a South Mumbai bar, or somewhere in his den. “He’s more a South Bombay person roaming the street at 1 am than Bandra,” Bhat quips.
Bhat confesses to be a Mumbaikar at heart. “Twenty years ago, Mumbai had a buzzing energy. In fact, it still does, just I have stopped going out! Day or night, Mumbai is always rocking,” he says, adding, “I love the city’s energy at night, it is so peaceful. Mumbai is kind, and better than any other city. I love Mumbai. The sound of the sea stays with me,” he expresses.
There’s only one rule you live by, according to him. “You must love Mumbai, and respect its language, food and people. I am a proud Mumbaikar,” he says, humming the song that describes the city that never sleeps: “Yeh Mumbai shahar, hadson ka shahar hai!”
In an interactive chat with Sunny Leone and Anurag Kashyap, the director envisions Kennedy hanging in the shadows, be it out in the city or the corner of his room, switching his gun. Both agree with Bhat, “One is more to find Kennedy on South Bombay streets, wherever is quiet,” says Anurag. “Wherever he’s off to kill someone?” Leone laughs.
When asked what does Mumbai make you feel after midnight that it doesn’t during the day, Kashyap jokes, “I can step out, but the Kennedy in me comes out. On a serious note, Mumbai is so much more peaceful at this time.”
Leone agrees, “Once everybody goes to bed, you know, the streets are empty.” “Then I’m out of bed,” he adds.
Kashyap connects the sound of one lonely car passing to Mumbai at night. “Just wish that it was not being driven by Kennedy,” he says. Leone jokingly adds, “If you see Kennedy on the streets, everybody, please take a picture so we can track where he goes because he’s crazy.” One Mumbai rule for Kashyap to live by is, “When there is nothing to do, when you have no work, leave the city. Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahaan, Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan,” he signs off.
