Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Anurag Kashyap’s Bengaluru Move Raises Mental Health Questions
Anurag Kashyap moved from Mumbai to Bengaluru because he felt stressed by his old environment.
He said the move helped him feel less burdened and more productive.
He also changed some daily habits, such as stopping alcohol use and exercising.
A psychologist says moving can give people a chance to start fresh.
New streets and routines can interrupt habits that are difficult to break.
A new place may also make it easier to meet people, exercise and set boundaries.
However, moving cannot make emotional problems disappear by itself.
People may benefit most when they combine a move with healthy lifestyle changes and support.
Anurag Kashyap said moving from Mumbai to Bengaluru reduced stress and pressure from the Hindi film industry.
He linked the relocation with giving up alcohol, exercising more and spending additional time writing.
Psychologist Arpita Kohli said a new environment can disrupt habits and create psychological distance from stress triggers.
Research suggests neighbourhood conditions are associated with depression and common mental disorders, though evidence has limitations.
Relocation may support healthier routines, but it does not automatically resolve anxiety, grief, depression or unresolved conflicts.
- Who
- Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and psychologist Arpita Kohli of PSRI Hospital, New Delhi.
- What
- Kashyap’s relocation is being discussed as an example of how changing environments may affect mental health.
- When
- After Kashyap moved to Bengaluru; the article also refers to a 2005 habit study and a review of 30 longitudinal studies.
- Where
- Kashyap moved from Mumbai to Bengaluru.
- Why
- He sought distance from stress and pressure associated with Mumbai and the Hindi film industry, while a new environment may help disrupt stressful habits and routines.
- Person
- Anurag Kashyap
- Move
- From Mumbai to Bengaluru
- Reported benefits
- Less stress, greater productivity and more time to write
- Lifestyle changes
- Giving up alcohol and exercising
- Psychological mechanism
- A new environment can disrupt cues linked to established habits
- Research evidence
- A systematic review and meta-analysis examined 30 longitudinal studies
- Important limitation
- Relocation does not automatically resolve underlying emotional difficulties