- Wednesday, April 30, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has landed in the middle of a heated political and social controversy following his comments related to the caste-based protests surrounding his upcoming film Phule. The film, a biopic on renowned social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, has faced backlash from some sections of the Brahmin community who claim it depicts them in a negative light.
In response to the outrage, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, lashed out at Kashyap on social media, using strong words and demanding a public apology. In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Dubey did not hold back his criticism.
This vile scumbag @anuragkashyap72 thinks he can spit filth on the entire Brahmin community and get away with it?
If he doesn’t issue a public apology immediately, I swear I’ll make sure he finds no peace anywhere. Enough of this gutter mouth’s hate , we won’t stay silent!… pic.twitter.com/N6iRMoYDVw
— Satish Chandra Dubey (@satishdubeyy) April 18, 2025
The controversy began after Anurag Kashyap questioned the protests against Phule, which explores the lives of two of India’s earliest anti-caste reformers. The film features Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in the lead roles and was initially set to release last week. However, due to the backlash, its release was pushed to April 25.
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Reacting to the uproar, Anurag Kashyap issued a statement on Instagram apologising—not for the essence of his comment, but for a particular line that was taken out of context. In his apology, the Gangs of Wasseypur director revealed that his family, friends, and team were facing rape and death threats due to the online backlash.
“This is my apology, not for my post but for that one line taken out of context and the brewing hatred. No action or speech is worth your daughter, family, friends and colleagues getting rape and death threats from the kingpins of sanskar (cultural values),” he wrote on Instagram.
Kashyap further explained that Phule is a deeply personal project. “The first play I ever worked on in my life was based on Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. If casteism didn’t exist in this country, why did they need to fight against it?” he asked in one of his posts.
The controversy has not only reignited debates about caste representation in Indian cinema but also raised serious concerns about freedom of expression and personal safety for artists. While the backlash continues, the release of Phule on April 25 remains highly anticipated.
As discussions heat up online and across political circles, Anurag Kashyap’s response underscores a growing need for civil discourse and respectful engagement, especially when dealing with sensitive historical subjects.
