Fan Goes Gaga Over Rahul Bhat’s Kennedy As He Gets Nominated For The Best Actor Category At NYIFF

Festival-favourite Indian actor Rahul Bhat is all set to attend the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), where he has been nominated for Best Actor for his acclaimed performance in Kennedy, directed by celebrated filmmaker Anurag Kashyap.

The annual festival, known for spotlighting films from India and the Indian diaspora, will showcase Kennedy as part of its stellar lineup. The noir thriller, which premiered at Cannes and went on to make waves at multiple global film festivals, has been praised for Bhat's haunting and intense performance.

This film has made the rounds of prestigious film festivals around the world, where it was met with immense love from audiences. However, it is yet to be released in India. Fans across the country have been consistently asking when the film will finally see an Indian release. Both director Anurag Kashyap and lead actor Rahul Bhat have been vocal on several occasions about the prolonged delay.

Rahul Bhat has officially landed in New York and he posted "Brace yourself NYC, Kennedy is here"

Taking to social media ahead of the festival, Rahul Bhat shared a heartfelt fan note that captured the emotional connection audiences have felt with his portrayal in Kennedy. The message read:

"From the moment we met at #iffigoa I knew I met someone special. The peak was when I saw him in Cannes in the last Kashyap movie, his performance resonates in you. Rahul has made it then and since never turned back. An exciting career in the glimpse of an eye. Was happy and proud to witness this momentum. Whenever we speak it's an enchanting journey. All my blessings. Keep shining. Story to be continued."

The note echoes the sentiment of many viewers who have followed Bhat's steady rise through arthouse and independent cinema, particularly in his collaborations with Kashyap.

Also among this year's nominees are Nawazuddin Siddiqui for Best Actor and Anurag Kashyap himself for Best Director for Kennedy, making it a strong showing for Indian cinema at NYIFF.

As Bhat prepares to represent Kennedy on yet another international platform, his nomination marks another milestone in what's fast becoming a globally recognized acting career, one rooted in risk, range, and relentless reinvention. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Rahul is gearing up make his Hollywood debut with the film 'Lost and Found in Kumbh', which the actor presented at the Cannes Film Festival, 2025.