When it comes to Indian entertainment, few figures have shaped mass culture as much as Ektaa Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap—albeit from radically different ends of the storytelling spectrum. This week, their worlds collided publicly after a comment from Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos about the streaming giant’s India journey set off a chain reaction of opinions, outrage, and introspection.
The Spark: Sacred Games and Ted Sarandos' Comments
In a recent appearance on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath's podcast, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos reflected on the platform’s Indian debut with the critically acclaimed Sacred Games. While the series was a landmark for Indian OTT content, Sarandos now questions whether the choice was too niche for a first step.
He admitted:
“If I did it all over again, would I have done Sacred Games a couple of years later, and did things that were more populist (instead)? Maybe...”
This remark didn’t sit well with Sacred Games co-creator Anurag Kashyap, who lashed out on Threads, sarcastically writing:
“He should have started with Saas-Bahu... he would have done well. I always knew the tech guys are dumb when it comes to storytelling, but Ted Sarandos is the definition of dumb.”
Ektaa Kapoor Hits Back: ‘Be Self-Aware’
Anurag’s snide reference to saas-bahu serials—often mocked in elite circles for being melodramatic—did not go unnoticed. Ektaa Kapoor, the undisputed queen of Indian soap operas and the creative force behind Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, fired back on Instagram.
In a fiery, untagged post clearly directed at Kashyap, she wrote:
“You are so dumb… this 'I’m smarter, cooler' attitude is not just arrogant but deeply classist. Saas-bahu serials gave Indian women a voice. That impact is documented by prestigious Chicago research!”
She continued, “Artists who talk of an inclusive world are actually more classist. We must do away with this ‘you can’t sit with us, we’re better’ attitude. Love n light to all.”
The Larger Debate: Classism in Indian Entertainment
At the heart of this clash lies a deeper, long-running debate—one that cuts across India’s social and cultural fault lines: Is there a class bias in how we evaluate popular entertainment?
Anurag Kashyap, known for raw, indie-style cinema (Gangs of Wasseypur, Ugly), represents a brand of storytelling that appeals to urban, English-speaking audiences. Ektaa Kapoor, on the other hand, has consistently catered to the Hindi-speaking heartland, with stories woven around family, tradition, and resilience—especially that of women.
To some, saas-bahu serials are over-the-top. To others, they are powerful narratives of female agency in a country where women often struggle to find space, even in fiction.
The irony? Both creators have pushed boundaries in their own ways, yet one is seen as ‘high art’ while the other is often dismissed—proving Ektaa’s point about classist attitudes in creative spaces.
Why This Clash Matters
This is more than a celebrity feud. It’s about whose stories matter, and how we as a society validate (or invalidate) entire genres based on perception rather than impact.
When Netflix entered India with Sacred Games, it did so targeting urban millennials. But the massive growth of streaming platforms like MX Player, ALT Balaji, and even YouTube regional content shows where the real numbers lie.
The real success of OTT in India will only come when it balances both worlds—bringing together Kota Factory and Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Delhi Crime and Naagin. And creators like Ektaa and Anurag will have to coexist, perhaps even collaborate, to reflect the true diversity of the Indian viewer.
A Birthday Gift, A Business Deal
Interestingly, this war of words came right on the heels of Netflix announcing its creative collaboration with Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms on her birthday. The post read:
“Netflix and Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms come together in a creative collaboration to craft compelling stories across formats.”
Ektaa called it her “best birthday gift ever,” solidifying her crossover into OTT prestige even as critics continue to mock her TV roots.
Final Thoughts
The Ektaa-Anurag spat might seem like just another celebrity clash, but it shines a spotlight on the cultural elitism that continues to plague Indian media. In a country of 1.4 billion people, there’s room for both nuance and naach-gaana, noir and Nani-ki-kahaani.
Perhaps it’s time we stop pitting artists against each other and instead recognize the value of all kinds of storytelling.
Because at the end of the day—whether it’s Sacred Games or Sasural Simar Ka—stories are what connect us.