Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Kashyap Team to Present ‘Bobby Beauty Parlour’

Indian auteurs Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Kashyap have come together to present “Bobby Beauty Parlour,” a coming-of-age short film premiering during Friendship Week.

Directed by Shashwat Dwivedi, “Bobby Beauty Parlour” follows childhood best friends Eelu and Manu, who spend their last hours together drinking, napping and bickering in a neighborhood beauty parlor, unwilling to let go of a chapter of life that is ending. The film is produced by Janhavi Asthana, who also serves as co-writer and cinematographer, along with Ranjan Singh and Kashyap. Singh produces the film, and Kashyap curates it for the channel.

Ali and Kashyap have known each other since their student days in Delhi, and the short marks an unusual pairing of the two directors on a single project.

“The most spectacular moments of life don’t scream, but remain a part of our character forever,” Ali said. “It is such moments that make ‘Bobby Beauty Parlour’ charming. The film got me remembering my own small hometown, my adolescent decisions and friends that I always carried with me.”

Kashyap previously curated “Incognito” for the same YouTube channel last month, and described “Bobby Beauty Parlour” as a “simple story, simply told.”

“About friendship, aspirations and growing up,” Kashyap said. “And the best part is the producer Janhavi is also the co-writer and shot the film. The director Shashwat, is someone that started out with me whose growth has been so much and feels so personal.”

Singh, whose creative partnership with Kashyap spans over two decades, called “Bobby Beauty Parlour” an acclaimed short that has traveled to festivals across the world. “Essentially a heart-warming story about friends, life and its realities, it fits perfectly for a friendship week release,” Singh said.

The short stars Adrija Sinha, Parul Rana, Saksham Raj and Preeti Kochar. It will debut at midnight on Aug. 6, exclusively on the Oh Short Flips YouTube channel.

Dwivedi said the short attempts to turn the lens on something fragile that often gets overlooked: childhood. “‘Bobby Beauty Parlour’ has been an amazing experience for me, especially because of the people involved it in,” Dwivedi said. “I’m glad the film is releasing on YouTube, given I’ve learnt so much of my filmmaking through the platform, it feels good to give something back for a change. It’s also tough to believe that two of my favorite filmmakers are presenting the film, both of whom have had a great impact on my life. I really hope it reaches a wide audience and people start missing their friends after watching it.”