He came to India as a student from Lagos seven years ago, fell in love with Bollywood through 'Gangs of Wasseypur', and built a million-follower Instagram empire on the strength of his Hindi, humour, and cultural fluency. Now, Agu Stanley Chiedozie known online as Istanboss, is making his mainstream Bollywood debut in
Anurag Kashyap's crime thriller Bandar, releasing in cinemas worldwide on June 5. In an interview recently, Stanley opens up about working with Kashyap, what Bobby Deol taught him about acting and why this moment feels like a full circle.
He came to India as a student from Lagos seven years ago, fell in love with Bollywood through 'Gangs of Wasseypur', and built a million-follower Instagram empire on the strength of his Hindi, humour, and cultural fluency. Now, Agu Stanley Chiedozie known online as Istanboss, is making his mainstream Bollywood debut in Anurag Kashyap's crime thriller 'Bandar', releasing in cinemas worldwide on June 5. In an interview recently, Stanley opens up about working with Kashyap, what Bobby Deol taught him about acting and why this moment feels like a full circle.
Who is Istanboss? The Nigerian student who became one of India's biggest content creators
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Agu Stanley Chiedozie arrived in India in 2019 as a student. Like countless newcomers navigating an unfamiliar culture, he turned to cinema as a bridge and Hindi films quickly became his classroom, his community, and eventually, his career.
Standing at an imposing 6'5" and now fluent in not just Hindi but also Marathi, Bhojpuri, and Gujarati, Stanley built a massive digital following under the handle Istanboss, creating content centred on language, culture, and the textures of everyday Indian life. His videos resonated with audiences across the country, earning him close to one million Instagram followers and making him one of the most recognisable foreign content creators in India's digital landscape.
How did 'Gangs of Wasseypur' change everything for Istanboss?
The origin story of Stanley's Bollywood journey begins with a single film and a single director.
"Watching Gangs of Wasseypur and enjoying it, I found Anurag Kashyap to be one of the reasons I am who I am today," Stanley told NDTV.
"Imagine, if I didn't like the first Hindi movie I ever watched, I would not have watched it anymore. But I liked that film, so I watched more, and my Hindi improved," Stanley continued.
Stanley opens up with Anurag Kashyap: 'Bahut chill aadmi hai'
For most newcomers, the prospect of working with one of Hindi cinema's most formidable auteurs would be daunting. Stanley found something different on the other side of that expectation.
"Working with him was like a full-circle moment for me," he said, before painting a portrait of Kashyap that may surprise those familiar only with his intense filmography.
Stanley revealed, "Anurag Kashyap is a very fun person. Bahut chill aadmi hai. (He is a very chill guy) He is not strict. Straight to the point, he'll tell you whatever the problem is."
Stanley recalled first meeting Kashyap at his home, with the first half of Bandar already shot. Their subsequent time together on set, ten days in close proximity left a lasting impression. "I feel like I've known him for a long time. It was a very, very chill interaction. I would always love to work with him again," he said.
'Bobby Deol has a goon vibe': What Istanboss learned from watching his co-star on set
If working with Kashyap was the dream, then sharing screen space with Bobby Deol turned out to be the masterclass. Stanley was unequivocal in his praise and his excitement for audiences to witness what Deol has delivered.
"I'm looking forward to you guys seeing what Bobby Deol has pulled off in this movie. He has that goon vibe. He's a hard guy. When you see what Bobby Deol has done in this movie, it's flabbergasting," Stanley said.
But beyond the spectacle of Deol's performance, Stanley says he absorbed something more fundamental about the craft of acting.
"He cried for a scene, and watching Bobby Deol cry, I'm like, okay, now I know he should be open to different kinds of characters. You should see yourself in such a way that you can always show up in whatever character you're given. That's something I took back home after working with Bobby Deol," stated Stanley.
What's next for Istanboss?
'Bandar' is only the beginning of what looks like a busy chapter in front of the camera for Stanley. He is also set to appear in veteran filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's upcoming Telugu musical fantasy Sing Geetham and has multiple other Hindi and regional projects in development.
More about 'Bandar'
Directed by Anurag Kashyap and internationally titled 'Monkey in a Cag'e, 'Bandar' releases in cinemas worldwide on June 5, 2025. The film had its world premiere in the Special Presentations section at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it generated significant critical buzz.
The story centres on Samar, a fading television star played by Bobby Deol, whose life unravels after his former partner accuses him of rape. Navigating a legal system stacked against him, the film is an unflinching examination of power, public perception, justice, and institutional failure — inspired by real events. The ensemble cast includes Sanya Malhotra, Saba Azad, Sapna Pabbi, Raj B. Shetty, Jitendra Joshi, Indrajith Sukumaran and Riddhi Sen.
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