Following the popular release of Dev D in 2009, actor Abhay Deol and director Anurag Kashyap developed a conflict that Deol has later publicly admitted about. Anurag recently addressed the matter, implying that Abhay would suffer if he told his side of the tale.

Kashyap answered issues on his reputation for bad relationship maintenance in an interview with Janice Sequeira, especially regarding Abhay and actor Pankaj Jha. Anurag explained, "I am not terrible at preserving relationships. Abhay has not been seen since the Dev D. shooting. He hasn't contacted me since and skipped promotions. That's his side of the story: if he wants to call me toxic, great, that's okay.

Kashyap said, "I can't reveal the truth since, should I do, he won't be able to face anyone. There is too much truth in there that Abhay would not be brave enough to discuss. I won't mention anything either since it would make him appear awful.

Dealing with the issue of substituting Pankaj Tripathi for Pankaj Jha in Gangs of Wasseypur, Anurag said it was misinterpreted. Jha had joined the Osho ashram, he clarified, and was not acting at that moment. Anurag remarked, "I was on a tight budget and had to cast someone quickly; Pankaj Tripathi was brought in at the last minute; Jha never contacted him about being unhappy over the replacement."

Some friends label Anurag "problematic" and "toxic," but he is not bothered. He said, "I can't always make people happy," and he chooses not to deal with individuals that cause trouble for him.

Anurag recently starred in the Vijay Sethupathi star Maharaja and is scheduled to co-star with Gulshan Devaiah in Bad Cop.