Rahul Bhat is making waves on the international stage once again, this time at the 2025 edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). His latest film, Kennedy, directed by Anurag Kashyap, has premiered to packed houses and roaring applause, with Bhat earning a coveted nomination for Best Actor.
The noir thriller, which first premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with a nine-minute standing ovation, continues its stellar run across global festivals. At NYIFF, the buzz around Kennedy was so intense that the first screening sold out in just 40 seconds, prompting organisers to add a second show by popular demand.
Bhat, visibly moved by the reception, shared his thoughts ahead of the screening,“I’m truly honoured to be nominated for Best Actor at NYIFF. The response in New York has been nothing short of surreal- the first screening of Kennedy sold out in just 40 seconds! A second show had to be added, and that kind of love is incredibly humbling. What’s even more heartening is that this isn’t just a one-off – everywhere Kennedy has been screened, it’s sold out within minutes. The response across the world has been overwhelming, and I’m deeply grateful for it.”
