Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has launched a scathing attack on Netflix India’s top executives, accusing them of hypocrisy, moral bankruptcy, and prioritizing subscription growth over creative storytelling. In a detailed social media post, Kashyap expressed his frustration, comparing Netflix India’s approach with its global operations.
Anurag Kashyap’s Criticism of Netflix India
Kashyap shared an appreciation post for the British drama Adolescence, which has been widely praised. However, he also admitted feeling envious, arguing that Indian filmmakers are not given the freedom to create such bold content on Netflix India.
Commenting on Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’ praise for Adolescence, Kashyap accused Netflix India of operating differently. He claimed that if an Indian filmmaker had pitched Adolescence, the platform would have either rejected it or forced it into a conventional 90-minute film.
“Now coming to my envy and jealousy,” Kashyap wrote. “Ted Sarandos recently put up a post about Adolescence, calling it groundbreaking. But Netflix India is a total opposite s**tshow. If they were pitched this, they would have either rejected it or forced it into a black-and-white formulaic ending.”
Kashyap’s Bitter Experience with Netflix
Kashyap, one of the pioneering Indian filmmakers on Netflix with Sacred Games, revealed that his later experiences with the streaming giant were disappointing. He recalled the platform’s lack of empathy, creative insecurity, and frequent staff changes, which made collaboration difficult.
“Having gone through this twice with them after Sacred Games, I’ve dealt with their total lack of empathy, courage, and dumbness mixed with immense insecurity of the series head and team that keeps getting fired. It frustrates me,” he wrote.
Calling Out Hypocrisy in Netflix’s Indian Market Strategy
Kashyap named Netflix’s top bosses, calling out their approach to India’s 1.4 billion-strong market. He criticized their alleged focus on increasing subscriptions at the cost of creative integrity.
“This hypocrisy of Ted and Bella (Netflix’s global executives) toward the Indian market is evident. Their only interest is subscriptions. There was a time when Eric Barmack would reach out personally to collaborate, but now they just send half-baked projects like Saare Jahan Se Achcha, which has already changed directors and been shot twice,” Kashyap wrote.
Hopes for a Better Future
The filmmaker, who has now turned to South Indian cinema for creative inspiration, remains hopeful that Netflix India will learn from its mistakes.
“I hope they realize that the best Indian Netflix originals—like Delhi Crime, Black Warrant, Kohrra, and Trial by Fire—were either acquired or projects they least believed in. Fingers crossed for a better future,” he concluded.
About Adolescence
Adolescence is a British miniseries created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. It follows a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a schoolmate, with each scene shot in one take. The show was released on March 13 and has been highly acclaimed.
Sources By Agencies
