E14 • The Power of the Underdog • NIKHIL NAGESH BHAT , dir. of ‘Kill’, Now in Theaters following TIFF + Tribeca

Today I speak with Mumbai-based director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat about his kick-ass action film ‘Kill’, which premiered at TIFF last year and is now globally distributed by Lionsgate. We discuss Nikhil’s journey into the film industry, from watching Indian action films on television as a child, and his love for James Cameron’s ‘Aliens’. He shares his experiences with rejection and the importance of patience and persistence in filmmaking. The conversation also touches on the financing and production of his latest film ‘Kill’ and the challenges and excitement of premiering at film festivals. Nikhil expresses his belief in underdog stories and aims to create films that combine thrilling action with humor and emotional depth. He also shares his desire to remake Paul Verhoeven’s 'RoboCop'. What Movies Are You Watching? Listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more, as well as at www.pastpresentfeature.com. Like, subscribe, and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature The Past Present Feature Film Festival - Nov. 20-22, 2026 in Hollywood, CA - Submit at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeature