In a candid conversation during his Ahmedabad visit for ‘Assi’ promotions, director Anubhav Sinha unpacked the raw emotion behind his latest venture starring Taapsee Pannu. The film’s trailer has already ignited debates, positioning it as a unflinching portrayal of rape victims’ struggles in India.
Sinha, celebrated for socially conscious cinema that punches above the weight of commercial Bollywood, chose ‘Assi’ to spotlight a grim reality: India’s National Crime Records Bureau reports approximately 80 women sexually assaulted daily. ‘News flashes by—front-page fury one day, forgotten the next,’ he remarked. ‘This film asks the real questions: What becomes of her life post-trauma? Does the offender regret their crime?’
Through extensive research into survivor stories and legal battles, ‘Assi’ unfolds as a gripping courtroom thriller laced with suspense. It exposes the manipulative tactics in high-stakes cases, where truth bends under pressure from all sides. ‘We’ve fictionalized elements but stayed true to the chaos of real events,’ Sinha noted.
On future projects, the filmmaker admitted travel has delayed progress, but four scripts are in development, two on the verge of greenlight. Promoting tirelessly across dozens of cities, he lightened the mood by revealing his love for regional delicacies, with Ahmedabad’s thalis next on his list.
As ‘Assi’ gears up for release, it stands as a clarion call against apathy, urging society to look beyond headlines and into the human cost of violence against women.