After nearly three years since its film festival premieres, Anurag Kashyap’s noir thriller Kennedy has officially released in India. The film, starring Rahul Bhat in the titular role and Sunny Leone, is now streaming on Zee5 as of February 20, 2026.
Fans were met with a slightly altered version, following several cuts recommended by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The board granted the film an ‘A’ certificate, requiring edits such as muting explicit curse words, adding anti-smoking disclaimers, and removing a 14-second scene. Additionally, references to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and former US President Donald Trump were modified. For instance, a character initially linked to Dawood was renamed “Pakistan Don,” and dialogues referencing Donald Trump were altered to include the phrase “Pump Trump.”
Kennedy follows a cop presumed dead who becomes a hitman for a corrupt senior officer. The narrative traces his journey of revenge against an international gangster while navigating Mumbai’s underworld and police corruption.
The film had previously premiered at the MAMI Film Festival in 2023 and had been screened internationally, including at the Cannes Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, and the London Indian Film Festival. In 2025, it became the first Indian film selected for Letterboxd’s inaugural Video Store.
Zee5 announced its Indian streaming release earlier this year, with the trailer debuting ahead of the February 20 release. Produced by Good Bad Films and presented by Zee Studios, the film also stars Mohit Takalkar, Abhilash Thapliyal, and Megha Burman, rounding out a strong ensemble cast.
Kashyap commented in 2025: “I am happy that finally the film will be available for the general audience to watch in some parts of the world,” reflecting on its long journey from festivals to mainstream streaming.
