Rahul Bhatt-Sunny Leone starrer Anurag Kashyap film ‘Kennedy’ screened at Cannes, receives 7-minute standing ovation

New Delhi: Anurag Kashyap’s highly anticipated film ‘Kennedy’, an essential police noir film, has finally screened at The Grand Lumiere Theatre at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

‘Kennedy’ is based on the insomniac cop who dwells in different circumstances while looking for redemption. The hype around the film has been soaring high with the film being screened on a stage as prestigious and renowned as Cannes.

The Grand Lumiere Theatre is one of the most illustrious theatres in the world. It's the core theatre where all the magnum red carpet events are executed and films are premiered. Kashyap’s ‘Kennedy’ was screened there and received a seven-minute standing ovation.

‘Kennedy’ is the first Indian film that screened in the midnight section at The Grand Lumiere Theatre. With 'Kennedy', Kashyap returned to the Cannes Film Festival where he previously presented films such as 'Raman Raghav 2.0', 'Ugly', 'Bombay Talkies' and the two-part gangster drama 'Gangs of Wasseypur'.

Anurag has graced the carpet as a veteran filmmaker and was seen there as a chief guest and a speaker. Also, Vikramaditya Motwane, Rahul Bhatt, Sunny Leone, Shariq Patel, Ranjan Singh, Kabir Ahuja, Bhumika Tewari, Neeraj Joshi, Ashima Awasthi have joined the filmmaker at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Anurag said, “It's always special to show your film to the world at Cannes and it’s a lifetime moment to play at the Grand Theatre Lumiere. Kennedy is a very special film to me and extremely personal too. We have put our heart and soul into making this film. 7 mins long standing ovation from the audience has made me full of gratitude. I am very grateful and excited at the same time.”

Talking about her Cannes debut and Kennedy’s screening, actress Sunny Leone shared, "I am thrilled to make my Cannes debut with Kennedy being screened here. It's only a dream few actors get to live, and I take a lot of pride in being a part of such a prestigious event. I cannot wait to see how the global audience reacts."

Lead actor Rahul Bhatt added, “Kennedy is our labor of love. The film is exciting, it keeps you gripped. And as I, along with my team, enter the coveted red carpet of Cannes and show our film to the world, I am full of gratitude for everyone, especially Anurag, who made this possible."

Talking about the same, Shariq Patel, CBO of Zee Studios said, “We are thrilled to see 'Kennedy' garner a high-wattage response, here at Cannes. I thank the selection committee at Cannes for extending this opportunity to us. Having an exuberant applause at Grande Lumiere Theatre by the audience is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime surreal experience.’’

Producer Ranjan Singh commented, “From the start, we always wanted and wished that Kennedy is screened to a global audience. And with the film screened at Cannes, it feels good that it’s starting its showcasing journey here. We are excited, nervous and hopeful at the same time.”

‘Kennedy’ is written and directed by Anurag Kashyap starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone. The film has been produced by Zee Studios and Ranjan Singh & Kabir Ahuja of Good Bad Films. (UNI)