Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has spoken out about what he feels is India’s growing obsession with the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, saying many people have forgotten the real essence of this event.

Speaking to film critic Sucharita Tyagi during Cannes, the 53-year-old actor-director said, “In India, the problem and obsession with Cannes is only to walk the red carpet. They don’t understand that there is a festival, and the purpose of it is beyond the red carpet.”

The Satya maker said he avoids the spotlight himself. Referring to his own visits to the festival, he said, “hum log side se chale jaate hain” (we head in from the side), instead of posing for photographers.

Kashyap also said the red carpet was the “least important” part of Cannes and claimed many Indians attending the Cannes market are not watching films there.

This year, only two Indian titles were officially part of Cannes selections, one is Shadows of the Moonless Night and the second is restored classic Amma Ariyan. Kashyap blamed delays and poor planning for India’s weak presence at international festivals.

“There is a lot of misinformation in India, and the producers fear festivals,” he said, adding that films often miss deadlines and lose their chance to compete.

Even with a few Indian films at the festival, Indian celebrities have continued drawing attention on the red carpet.

Alia Bhatt made multiple appearances as the beauty brand L’Oréal Paris brand ambassador, while Urvashi Rautela and Tara Sutaria also attended Cannes events this week.