Anurag Kashyap Exposes Doubts Over Blockbuster 'Queen' Before Its Surprise Success

In a recent conversation, acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap provided a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 2014 hit film 'Queen'. Kashyap, who was one of the founders of the production house Phantom Films, disclosed that prior to the film's release, no one, including the studio partner, had any faith in its potential.

Kashyap revealed that 'Queen' was initially greenlit as a low-cost film, but the studio later expressed skepticism, asking, "What is this?" The film languished in the cans for a year and a half, with the studio executives even going on holiday when it was finally released. However, Kashyap was confident in the film's quality, stating, "When I saw the footage for the first time, I enjoyed it a lot. I couldn't stop laughing. I said, 'Yeh toh kamaal ki picture hai'."

Interestingly, Kashyap himself took on the role of editor for 'Queen', eventually winning the Filmfare Award for Best Editing. He was puzzled by the fact that others were unable to see the great performance by lead actress Kangana Ranaut and the arc of her character, which he could clearly discern.

Despite the initial doubts, 'Queen' went on to become a sleeper super-hit, with its first-day collection of Rs. 85 lakhs growing to over Rs. 1 crore the next day. Kashyap, who was busy shooting 'Bombay Velvet' at the time, credits the film's success to the combined efforts of producer Ranjan Singh and Kangana Ranaut, who took the lead in marketing the film.