Anurag Kashyap is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. He is often regarded as the face of the emerging new wave of cinema for producing numerous independent films featuring newcomers. For his contribution to cinema, the French government awarded him the Order of Arts and Letters (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2013. After writing a television series, Kashyap had his major breakthrough as co-writer of the crime drama "Satya" (1998) by Ram Gopal Varma, and his directorial debut came with the film "Paanch," which was never released due to censorship issues.

In addition to filmmaking, Kashyap is a board member of the Mumbai-based NGO Aangan, which helps protect vulnerable children across India. He is the founder of two film production companies: Anurag Kashyap Films, headed by Guneet Monga, and Phantom Films, created in partnership with directors Vikramaditya Motwane and Vikas Bahl and producer Madhu Mantena.