Anurag Kashyap issues apology to Brahmin community, acknowledges hurt caused to family and friends
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Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has issued a second, more sincere apology to the Brahmin community following backlash over his recent remarks on social media.
The controversy stems from his defense of the upcoming film Phule, which sparked heated debates around caste representation.
Kashyap's latest apology, posted on Tuesday via X (formerly Twitter), appears to be a step back from his earlier, more defiant response. Writing in Hindi, the filmmaker admitted that in a moment of anger, he spoke out of turn and generalised an entire community. "In my frustration, I forgot to maintain respect and ended up insulting the Brahmin community - a community that has always been part of my life and continues to contribute meaningfully to it," he wrote.
He emphasised that his controversial remark was not a deliberate attack but a reaction during a heated exchange with a user on X. "In doing so, I distracted from the real issue I was trying to highlight. I sincerely apologise to the Brahmin community, whom I did not intend to offend," he added.
Kashyap also expressed regret for the distress his words caused to his family, friends, and intellectuals he holds in high regard. "I have hurt people close to me. I am sorry for my choice of words and the inappropriate tone I used," he said, assuring that he would work on controlling his anger and choose his words more carefully in the future.
The apology follows an FIR lodged against Kashyap in Jaipur, filed by local resident Anil Chaturvedi. The complaint accused him of using abusive language against the Brahmin community while responding to criticism online. In a further escalation, Chanakya Sena leader Pandit Suresh Mishra announced a ₹1 lakh reward for anyone who would blacken the director’s face.
The incident took place as Kashyap was defending director Ananth Mahadevan’s historical film Phule, which depicts the lives of social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. The film, set to release on April 25, has come under fire for its portrayal of caste dynamics. While responding to a social media user questioning the film’s content, Kashyap made a remark that was widely condemned.
On Saturday, amid growing outrage, Kashyap had issued a conditional apology via Instagram, stating: “This is my apology - not for my post, but for that one line taken out of context. Abuse me all you want, but my family, friends, and colleagues are getting rape and death threats. They didn’t say anything. If you want an apology, here it is.”
