War of Words: Ektaa Kapoor Fires Back at Anurag Kashyap's 'Saas-Bahu' Dig!

Mumbai, India: A heated exchange has ignited a fresh debate in the Indian entertainment industry, with television czarina Ektaa Kapoor strongly rebuking filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. The war of words erupted after Kashyap made a seemingly sarcastic remark about "saas-bahu" (mother-in-law, daughter-in-law) dramas, prompting Kapoor to label his comments as "dumb" and "classist."

 

The controversy stems from recent comments made by Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos on Nikhil Kamath's podcast. Sarandos reportedly expressed some reservations about Netflix India's initial strategy, suggesting that launching with a complex, critically acclaimed series like Sacred Games in 2018 might not have been the most "populist" approach for the Indian market, implying something more mainstream might have worked better initially.

 

Anurag Kashyap, who co-directed and produced Sacred Games, took to social media to respond to Sarandos' remarks. In a fiery post, he sarcastically stated that Netflix should have started with "Saas Bahu" shows, adding, "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 @tedsarandos is the definition of dumb is what I didn't know. Good to discover that. This explains everything now." This "saas-bahu" reference was widely interpreted as a dig at Netflix's recent collaboration with Ektaa Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms, known for pioneering and popularizing the genre.

 

Ektaa Kapoor, the undisputed queen of Indian television soaps, did not hold back in her response. Without directly naming Kashyap, she took to her Instagram stories and launched a scathing counter-attack.

 

"Ur so dumb... saying this put u on an advantage 'I'm smarter cooler' but naaaaaaaa! Darling how about gracious!!! N self aware?????? An art a lot of artists don't have!" she wrote.

 

Kapoor passionately defended the "saas-bahu" genre, highlighting its significant impact on Indian society. She further stated, "'Saas bahu' n their impact on Indian masses (how women got a voice in mass India) is well documented by prestigious Chicago research! But artists who talk of an inclusive world are actually more classist."

 

She concluded her powerful message by advocating for a more inclusive mindset within the creative fraternity: "We must do away with this 'U can't sit with us we r better' attitude for democracy n fair play! Love n light to all."

 

This public spat has reignited long-standing debates within the Indian entertainment industry regarding the perceived divide between "mass" and "class" content, commercial success versus critical acclaim, and the role of popular television in shaping societal narratives. Ektaa Kapoor's firm stance underscores the cultural significance of the "saas-bahu" genre for a large segment of the Indian audience, emphasizing its reach and influence, particularly among women.

 

The exchange continues to draw reactions from industry insiders and netizens alike, sparking discussions about creative freedom, audience understanding, and the responsibility of artists in their public commentary.

 

 

 

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