The more than two-minute long trailer begins with a popular face in the spotlight, cameras and applause. Bobby Deol plays the role of Samar Mehra, who was once a famous television star. In the outside world he is attractive, self-confident, knows how to influence people easily. But as soon as the door closes, another person appears. A man immersed in loneliness, doubting his very existence.
Samar himself admits that sometimes he feels that he is a very good person and sometimes he is afraid of his conscience. It was only after that confession that the story took an even more dangerous turn. On a dating app, he meets a woman, played by Sapna Pabbi. And after that introduction, Samar’s life started falling apart.
As the trailer slowly reveals, Samar has been accused of rape, blackmail and extortion. Police are investigating his private messages and inquiring whether he used to blackmail young girls by asking for nude photos of them. On the other hand, Samar is repeatedly claiming that he is innocent. His complaint is that the woman is a ‘stalker’. But did he really hang out? Or is there something more sinister hidden behind his smile? The trailer doesn’t answer this. Rather, it makes the viewer more uncomfortable.
It can be seen in one scene that Samar is getting surrounded by police interrogation. Elsewhere, he stands almost helplessly in front of his lawyer, simply saying, “I’m innocent.” Sanya Malhotra plays the role of that lawyer. One of the most poignant moments of the trailer comes when a line – “Justice swipe left” flashes on the screen. It seems as if the judiciary has rejected this man.
Bobby Deol worked with Anurag Kashyap for the first time. And looking at the trailer, it is understood that Bobby, who is known on the screen of ‘Animal’ or ‘The Ba**ads of Bollywood’, will not be found here. Here he is a man standing in a fallen position. It is possible that he may have fallen into a trap of his own making. Then again, perhaps a victim of a system where the line between truth and lie is easily blurred.
The trailer also hints that the film is based on a true story. The result is that an atmosphere of #MeToo controversy is looming over this picture. Earlier this year, Anurag’s sister Bhishti Kashyap produced the much-talked-about #MeToo drama ‘Aropee’. Within a few months, Anurag himself entered that complex, controversial and emotional field with ‘Bandar’.
The film stars Sanya Malhotra, Raj B Shetty, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Riddhi Sen and Jitendra Joshi along with Bobby. Saba Azad will be seen in a love affair of Samar. The script of the film has been written by Sudeep Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee. He is known for works like ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘Kohra’ and ‘Udta Punjab’. Sakshi Mehta Lau is the co-director with Anurag Kashyap.
‘Bandar’ also made it to the Special Presentation section of the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025. At that time Bobby had said that he wanted to work with Anurag for a long time. Because he knew that this director would push him to a completely new place as an actor. According to Bobby, he had to go out of his comfort zone for this film. There was no workshop before the film. They did not get the complete script.
After the success of ‘Animal’, Bobby started working on ‘Monkey’. At that time he tried to analyze himself. He watched ‘Animal’ again and again to find the answer to what people saw in him and why they accepted him anew. But no reply was received. Rather, that uncertainty may have changed him from within. He himself said, sometimes he did not sleep for an hour, then he shot continuously for 12 hours. But when he stood in front of the camera, everything fell into place automatically.
So ‘Bandar’ is not just a crime or court story. It’s an effort to look at a man who can’t even trust his own reflection. Around which complaints, fears, attractions and doubts are revolving together. And that’s why even after the trailer is over, Samar Mehra’s face doesn’t fade from your mind easily.
‘Monkey’ is releasing in theaters on June 5. And at least it is clear from the trailer that Anurag Kashyap is not coming to console the audience in this film. He is once again going to hold a mirror that is uncomfortable to look at.
