India, May 30 -- Even before its theatrical release, Bandar has become more than just another dark thriller on the Bollywood calendar. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and headlined by Bobby Deol, the film is shaping into a tense exploration of celebrity culture, public outrage, gender politics and the fragile nature of truth in the social media age.

The recently released trailer introduces Bobby Deol as Sameer Mehra, a fading rockstar whose glamorous public life collapses after he is accused of sexual assault. What follows appears to be a disturbing spiral involving media trials, legal scrutiny, prison violence and psychological breakdowns. But unlike conventional courtroom dramas that position characters clearly as heroes or villains, Bandar...