Ektaa Kapoor Fires Back at Anurag Kashyap for Mocking TV Soaps, ‘Calls Him Dumb’

June 9, 2025: A fiery war of words has erupted in the Indian entertainment industry after Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos questioned the platform’s decision to launch its Indian original content slate with Sacred Games.

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The comment, made on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, drew sharp criticism from filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who co-directed the acclaimed series. In response, television and OTT mogul Ektaa Kapoor slammed Anurag for what she called a “classist” take.

During the podcast, Sarandos reflected on the early days of Netflix India and said, “Our very first Indian original show was Sacred Games. And I thought, ‘This is going to be great.’ … But what I didn’t understand [was] that we were introducing a brand new kind of entertainment in a country the size of India… If I did it all over again, would I have done Sacred Games a couple of years later, and done things that were more populist? Maybe.”

Anurag Kashyap Reacts: ‘He Should Have Started With Saas-Bahu’

Anurag Kashyap didn’t take kindly to the remarks. Taking to Threads, he lashed out at Sarandos, saying:

“He should have started with Saas Bahu… he would have done well. Which he is doing now. I always knew the tech guys are dumb when it comes to storytelling, but Ted Sarandos is the definition of dumb. Good to discover that. This explains everything now.”

The comment sparked a heated reaction from Ektaa Kapoor, often referred to as the “queen of Indian television” for her long-running saas-bahu dramas.

Ektaa Kapoor Hits Back: ‘You Are So Dumb… That’s Classism’

While not naming Anurag directly, Ektaa shared a pointed Instagram story:

“You are so dumb… saying this puts you at an advantage—’I’m smarter, cooler’—but naaaaaaaa! Darling, how about gracious and self-aware? An art a lot of artists don’t have!”

She defended the cultural impact of saas-bahu shows, citing research from the University of Chicago that documented their role in giving Indian women a voice.

“Saas-bahu and their impact on Indian masses is well documented by prestigious Chicago research!”

She also criticized the elitism she sees among some creators:

“Artists who talk of an inclusive world are actually more classist. We must do away with this ‘U can’t sit with us, we’re better’ attitude for democracy and fair play! Love n light to all.”

Netflix and Ektaa: A New Partnership

Ironically, this clash comes just as Netflix and Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms announced a major creative partnership. On Ektaa’s birthday, the streamer unveiled their collaboration to “craft compelling stories across formats.”

Industry Divided

The controversy has divided opinions online. While some praised Anurag for defending Sacred Games and creative risk-taking, others echoed Ektaa’s call for humility and inclusiveness, emphasizing the wide reach and social impact of mainstream Indian television.

As Netflix doubles down on India, balancing mass appeal with prestige content may continue to be a challenge—especially in a landscape as complex and diverse as the Indian audience itself.

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