MUMBAI (Diya TV) — Indian Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has launched a sharp rebuke at Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, calling him “the definition of dumb” in response to recent comments about the streaming platform’s early content strategy in India, particularly the launch of its first Indian original series, Sacred Games.

The controversy erupted after Sarandos appeared on the People by WTF podcast hosted by Nikhil Kamath, where he reflected on Netflix’s 2018 foray into Indian content with Sacred Games, directed by Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane.

On the podcast, Sarandos said he initially believed Sacred Games would be a breakthrough hit due to India’s deep love for cinema. “This is a TV show that feels as big as a movie. Has movie stars,” he said. However, he admitted he may have misjudged the Indian market’s readiness for such a project.

“What was interesting about it is, like, it was very, very novel,” Sarandos noted. “But I didn’t realize that we were going to be, like, introducing a brand new kind of entertainment to a country the size of India, because there was nothing else like it.”

He added, “If I did it all over again, would I have done Sacred Games a couple of years later and done things that were a little more populist? Maybe.”

Sarandos also acknowledged that entering India was always going to be a “slower journey” due to its unique and complex market, but reaffirmed that “it’s a great prize at the end of the day.”

Kashyap, known for his gritty and unconventional storytelling, didn’t take Sarandos’ comments lightly. Taking to social media, he wrote, “I always knew the tech guys are dumb when it comes to storytelling, but @tedsarandos is the definition of dumb is what I didn’t know. Good to discover that.”

He added a sarcastic jab referencing India’s long-running soap opera culture, “He should have started with Saas Bahu… he would have done well. Which he is doing now.”

Kashyap’s remark alluded to Netflix’s recent collaboration with Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms, known for producing popular family dramas like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. That show, a defining piece of Indian television, aired 1,833 episodes from 2000 to 2008 on Star Plus and became a cultural phenomenon. Kapoor’s company recently announced a new creative partnership with Netflix.

Netflix declined to comment on Kashyap’s statements, according to Variety, which first reported the filmmaker’s response.

Despite Sarandos’ hindsight, Sacred Games was a watershed moment for Indian streaming content. The series, based on Vikram Chandra’s novel, combined a high-stakes crime thriller with rich political and cultural themes. It starred Saif Ali Khan as a troubled Mumbai cop and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as enigmatic gangster Ganesh Gaitonde.

The series also featured Radhika Apte, Pankaj Tripathi, and Kalki Koechlin, and was praised for its production quality and storytelling. It remains one of Netflix’s most critically acclaimed Indian originals.

Kashyap, a long-standing voice in India’s indie film scene, has had several films featured at the Cannes Film Festival, including Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Ugly (2013), and Kennedy (2023). He also produced international successes like The Lunchbox (2013) and Masaan (2015).

His biting critique highlights an ongoing cultural tension between Silicon Valley tech leaders and traditional filmmakers, especially as global platforms navigate the complexities of local storytelling.