He came to India as a student in Lagos seven years ago, fell in love with Bollywood through ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and built an Instagram empire with millions of followers on the strength of his Hindi, humor and cultural fluency. Now Agu Stanley Chiedozie popularly known online as Istanboss is making his Bollywood debut Anurag KashyapBandar’s crime thriller, which opens in theaters worldwide on June 5. In a recent interview, Stanley talks about working with Kashyap, Bobby Deol it taught him about acting and why this moment feels like a full circle.He came to India as a student in Lagos seven years ago, fell in love with Bollywood through ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and built an Instagram empire with millions of followers on the strength of his Hindi, humor and cultural fluency. Now, Agu Stanley Chiedozie popularly known online as Istanboss, is making his Bollywood debut in Anurag Kashyap’s thriller ‘Bandar’, which will hit theaters worldwide on June 5. In a recent interview, Stanley talks about working with Kashyap, what Bobby Deol taught him about acting and why this moment feels like full circle.
Who is Istanboss? A Nigerian student who has become one of the biggest content creators in India
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Agu Stanley Chiedozie arrived in India in 2019 as a student. Like many newcomers navigating an unfamiliar culture, she turned to cinema as a bridge and Hindi films quickly became her classroom, her community, and eventually her career.Standing at an imposing 6’5″ and now fluent in not only Hindi but also Marathi, Bhojpuri and Gujarati, Stanley built a huge digital following under the handle Istanboss, creating content focused on the language, culture and texture of Indian daily life. His videos resonated with audiences across the country, earning him close to a million followers on Instagram and becoming one of the most popular foreign content creators on the Indian 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 and enjoying Gangs of Wasseypur, I saw that Anurag Kashyap was one of the reasons why I am who I am today,” Stanley told NDTV.“Imagine, if I didn’t like the first Hindi movie I saw, I wouldn’t watch any more. But I liked that movie, so I watched more, and my Hindi got better,” Stanley continued.
Stanley opens up with Anurag Kashyap: “Bahut chill aadmi hai”
For most newcomers, the opportunity to work with one of the most formidable auteurs in Hindi cinema would be overwhelming. Stanley found something different on the other side of that hope.“Working with him was like a full-circle moment for me,” she said before painting a portrait of Kashyap that might surprise those only familiar with his vibrant filmography.Stanley revealed, “Anurag Kashyap is a very funny person. Bahut chill aadmi hai. (He is a very chill guy) He is not strict. He will tell you directly whatever the problem is.”Stanley recalled Kashyap’s first meeting at his home, when the first part of Bandar had already been shot. Their time together on the set later, the next ten days left a lasting impression. “I feel like I’ve known him for a long time. It was a very, very cold interaction. I would always love to work with him again,” she said.
‘Bobby Deol has a goon vibe’: What Istanboss learned from watching his co-star on set
If working with Kashyap was a dream, then sharing screen space with Bobby Deol was a master class. Stanley was unequivocal in his praise and his excitement for the audience to witness what Deol delivered.“I’m looking forward to what you guys have come up with with Bobby Deol in this movie. He’s got that goon vibe. He’s a tough guy. When you see what Bobby Deol has done in this movie, it’s amazing,” Stanley said.But beyond the spectacle of Deol’s performance, Stanley says he learned something more fundamental about the craft of acting.“She cried for a scene, and seeing Bobby Deol cry, OK, now I know that you have to be open to different types of characters. You should always see yourself in a way that you can appear in any character that comes up to you. That’s something I took home after working with Bobby Deol,” Stanley said.
What’s next for Istanboss?
‘Bandar’ is just the beginning of what looks to be a busy chapter in front of the camera for Stanley. He will also appear in the veteran filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa RaoHe has his upcoming Telugu musical fantasy Sing Geetham and several other Hindi and regional projects in development.
More about ‘Bandar’
Directed by Anurag Kashyap and internationally titled ‘Monkey in a Cag’e’, ‘Bandar’ will release in theaters worldwide on June 5, 2025. The film had its world premiere in the Special Presentations section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival to critical acclaim.The story revolves around Samar, a fading TV star played by Bobby Deol, whose life falls apart after his ex-partner accuses him of rape. Navigating a legal system stacked against him, the film is an ongoing examination of power, public perception, justice and institutional failure, inspired by true events. The cast includes Sanya Malhotra, Saba Azad, Sapna Pabbi, Raj B. Shetty, Jitendra Joshi, Indrajith Sukumaran and Riddhi Sen.
