Anurag Kashyap, who has created his own space in Indian film industry, says it was his passion for cinema that helped him carve a niche for himself despite many hardships.

The 43-year-old 'Bombay Velvet' director, was in the city to deliver a lecture on "creative writing" at Banaras Hindu University. "You have to do things on your own and have to fight your own battle, in order to make your place in the industry," Anurag said.

Sharing his own struggles, the 'Gangs of Wasseypur' helmer revealed that after being denied direct entry in Prithvi theater, he decided to take up the job of a waiter in it's canteen. "This was how I got the entry inside the Prithvi theater and then soon started mingling with everyone and started taking up works as a scriptwriter and other small jobs there," he said.

Kashyap told students that his passion for work in the film industry in the initial days made him do things beyond his imagination and when he got the work of script writing and film direction he accepted it without expecting any money in return. The director said the '90s era was tough for aspiring filmmakers to make it big in the industry, but now thanks to internet, people have a platform to present their work to the world.


"New boost for cinema is now the availability of internet, you can upload your work online now," he said. Kashyap said that Indian censor board is better in comparison to countries like Iran and others, where some of the directors had to face jail. "There are always pros and cons," he said.

Anurag was accompanied by his filmmaker brother Abhinav Kashyap, who made his directorial debut with Salman Khan starrer 'Dabangg'. Talking about his struggle, he said he had a tough time convincing filmmakers about his script before Salim Khan decided to make the film.

"I roamed for two-three years with my script of 'Dabangg,' it was rejected by many filmmakers. Then Salman Khan's father Salim Sahab chose the script and sold his land to arrange money to make this movie," Abhinav said. The director said he first writes and then thinks as it gives him a material to work on and make it better.