Acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has issued a public apology after facing intense backlash over a controversial remark targeting the Brahmin community. The Gangs of Wasseypur director had earlier stated that he would “urinate on Brahmins” while replying to a user during an online spat related to the upcoming film Phule. The comment sparked widespread criticism, leading to a police case being filed in Jaipur and condemnation from Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubey, who labelled Kashyap a “vile scumbag”.
In a heartfelt note, Kashyap admitted he had crossed a line. “In anger, I forgot my limits while replying to someone. I spoke badly about the entire Brahmin community,” he wrote. He acknowledged that the community, which includes many people close to him, was deeply hurt by his outburst. “My family is hurt by me. Many intellectuals, whom I respect, are hurt by my anger and the way I spoke.”
The controversial comment had come in response to a social media user who had said, “Brahmins are your fathers,” provoking Kashyap to retaliate in anger. Now, recognising the consequences of his words, the filmmaker said he was misdirected in his response and deviated from the actual issue.
“I sincerely apologise to this society to whom I did not want to say this, but wrote it in anger while responding to someone’s cheap comment,” he added. Kashyap also expressed regret to his friends, family, and the community, pledging to work on managing his anger and choosing his words carefully in future. “If I need to talk on such issues again, I will use the right words.”
This apology comes in the wake of mounting outrage, particularly in connection with the ongoing controversy over the film Phule, which is based on the lives of iconic social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. The movie, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha, has faced objections from Brahmin groups, who claim it promotes casteism. The film is set to release in theatres on April 25, following reported censor board cuts.
While Kashyap had earlier shared a response he called an “apology”, critics pointed out that it included jibes and did not address the root of the issue. The filmmaker also revealed that since the remark, his family and friends have received rape and death threats. “It’s not worth it,” he said, pleading with the public to “spare the women.”
As the controversy unfolds, Kashyap’s latest statement marks a more conciliatory tone, aimed at defusing tensions and showing accountability for his words.
Sources By Agencies
