Mumbai, June 16: Actor Rahul Bhat is gaining international acclaim following the premiere of his film "Kennedy" at the renowned New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2025.

Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the film has garnered an enthusiastic reception, with the initial screening selling out rapidly, prompting organizers to schedule an additional showing.

Moreover, Rahul has been nominated for Best Actor for his role as Kennedy, which has added to his excitement.

Expressing his gratitude for the nomination, Rahul remarked, “I’m genuinely honored to be nominated for Best Actor at NYIFF. The audience's reaction in New York has been surreal; the first screening sold out in just 40 seconds! A second show was necessary, and such affection is incredibly humbling.”

He further noted, “What’s even more encouraging is that this isn’t an isolated incident; everywhere 'Kennedy' has been shown, it has sold out within minutes. The global response has been overwhelming, and I am profoundly thankful for it.”

"Kennedy" had its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, where it received a remarkable 9-minute standing ovation.

Produced by Ranjan Singh and Kabir Ahuja under the banners of Good Bad Films and Zee Studios, this neo-noir thriller features a talented cast including Sunny Leone as Charlie, Mohit Takalkar as Rasheed Khan, Abhilash Thapliyal as Chandan, Megha Burman as Anuradha, Karishma Modi as Gunjan, and Jeniffer Piccinato as Mrs. Lokhandwala, among others.

The film tells the story of an insomniac former police officer named Kennedy, who clandestinely serves a corrupt system while seeking redemption.

Recently, Rahul made his third appearance at the Cannes Film Festival with his film "Lost and Found in Kumbh".

Looking ahead, he has an intriguing psychological thriller in development, along with an ambitious international co-production that is set to be announced soon.