Danny Boyle ‘astonished’ by AK vs AK, praises Anil Kapoor’s performance 

In a special QnA session hosted for the British Film Institute (BFI), Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle sat down with Vikramaditya Motwane and lead stars Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap to talk about their new film AK vs AK. Released on Netflix, the meta-comedy has been praised for its unique concept and innovative storytelling.

“I just wanted to convey to you what a wonderful film you’ve made,” Danny says in the conversation. “I was astonished by it... For me it joins the pantheons of great films about filmmaking, of which there are a number. My favourites are Day For Night (La Nuit américaine) and probably Coppola’s wife’s film, Heart of Darkness (on the process of filming Apocalypse Now, the only film to deserve a Nobel Prize). But this is an incredibly modern film about filmmaking and there aren’t that many of them.”

Danny had previously worked with Anil Kapoor on his India-set film Slumdog Millionaire. Complimenting Anil on his performance in AK vs AK, Danny said, "Anil, it’s an exhilarating film. A success on all levels. A wonderful idea which, in other hands, might quickly run out of steam, here it sustains magnificently. Intriguing - I didn’t spot the twist, excruciating - the way reputations and egos are trashed, exciting - it has real breathless propulsion, visceral - the car smashing into you is brilliantly done, and it is truly, truly funny. It shamelessly uses every trick in the book to tear apart the film industry and modern media."

He further added, "None of this would matter if the acting wasn’t inspired and brilliantly sustained. You are both superb foils for each other - what a pleasure for me to see Anurag act like this! And the risks you take, and the length of the plank you walk, is truly breathtaking. I thought I was watching the end of your career and the beginning of another one all at the same time! Pacino, DeNiro, Hemsworth will want the remake rights though I’m not sure they could deliver like you can. Congrats to all. What a treat."