Ektaa Kapoor Responds to Anurag Kashyap's Criticism of Saas-Bahu Dramas

Ektaa Kapoor's Strong Response

Ektaa Kapoor has publicly addressed Anurag Kashyap's recent comments regarding saas-bahu dramas, labeling him as 'classist' and 'dumb.' Her reaction followed Kashyap's mockery of such shows, which came after Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos discussed the impact of 'Sacred Games.'

Kapoor, known for her association with family-oriented television series, expressed her displeasure through an Instagram story. She stated, 'You are so foolish... making this statement gives you a false sense of superiority, but that’s not the case! How about being gracious and self-aware? Many artists lack this quality! The influence of saas-bahu dramas on Indian society, particularly in giving women a voice, has been well-documented by a respected Chicago study.'

She further emphasized, 'We need to eliminate this 'you can't sit with us' mentality for the sake of democracy and fairness! Sending love and positivity to everyone.'

The controversy ignited when Sarandos, during a podcast with Nikhil Kamath, reflected on Netflix's initial foray into the Indian market. He suggested that launching with 'Sacred Games' may not have been the best decision and that a more 'populist' show could have resonated better with Indian viewers.

Kashyap, co-creator of 'Sacred Games,' took offense to Sarandos' remarks, calling him 'dumb' in a post on Threads. He remarked, 'He should have started with saas-bahu dramas; he would have succeeded. I always believed tech people struggle with storytelling, but I didn’t realize Ted Sarandos epitomizes that.'

'Sacred Games' was Netflix's inaugural original Indian series, directed by Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The series received acclaim upon its 2018 debut, although the second season faced mixed reviews, leading to its cancellation.