Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy continues its strong run on the festival circuit, drawing a standing ovation and sold-out screenings at the 2025 New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). The neo-noir thriller, headlined by Rahul Bhat, has been steadily building momentum since its Cannes premiere, where it received a nine-minute ovation.
At NYIFF, the film’s first screening sold out in just 40 seconds, prompting organisers to add another show. Bhat, who plays the titular role of a sleepless ex-cop operating within a corrupt system, has been nominated for Best Actor. “I’m truly honoured to be nominated for Best Actor at NYIFF,” he said. “The love Kennedy has received across the world is incredibly humbling.”
Anurag Kashyap and Rahul Bhat participate in a Q&A session following the NYIFF screening of ‘Kennedy’
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Kashyap is also in the running for Best Director. The film, produced by Ranjan Singh and Kabir Ahuja under Good Bad Films and Zee Studios, features Sunny Leone in a supporting role alongside Mohit Takalkar, Abhilash Thapliyal, Megha Burman, Karishma Modi, and Jeniffer Piccinato.
Following the NYIFF screening, Kashyap and Bhat participated in a Q&A session where audience members praised the film’s storytelling, music, and performances. One viewer called it “a masterpiece in Hindi cinema” and questioned why it hasn’t seen a theatrical release in India.
Despite its international acclaim, Kennedy remains unreleased in Indian cinemas, which has been a point of frustration for many fans. With growing demand on social media and at festival screenings, the pressure is mounting for a domestic release.