What went wrong with Bombay Velvet?

What Went Wrong with Bombay Velvet?

When Bombay Velvet hit theaters in 2015, expectations were sky-high. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Karan Johar, the film promised a stylish dive into 1960s Bombay’s jazz-soaked underworld. Visually, it dazzled—every frame dripping with period detail, neon lights, and noir atmosphere. The performances, particularly from Kapoor, Sharma, and even Johar in a rare serious role, were widely praised. Kapoor brought a brooding intensity, Sharma delivered subtlety and grace, and Johar surprised many with his restrained menace.

Yet, despite strong performances and a lush aesthetic, the film stumbled badly at the box office and with critics. The core issue? A muddled narrative and uneven direction. What should have been a gripping crime saga felt disjointed and overambitious. The script, adapted from John Irving’s novel The Soft Machine, struggled to find its footing, leaving audiences confused and emotionally detached. The pacing dragged, subplots fizzled, and the central romance lacked the heat needed to drive the story.

Kashyap, known for his gritty realism and sharp storytelling, seemed lost in the grandeur of a big-budget production. The film tried to be many things—a gangster epic, a tragic love story, a political commentary—but ended up saying little with clarity. Critics called it “style over substance,” praising its ambition but lamenting its execution.

In hindsight, Bombay Velvet wasn’t a failure of talent, but of cohesion. It’s a reminder that even with stellar performances and technical brilliance, a film lives or dies by its story. For all its velvet sheen, Bombay Velvet lacked the heart to make it truly resonate.