Why Varun Grover criticised Anurag Kashyap for praising Sandeep Reddy Vanga? 'Kai badtameeziyan ki hai'

Time of India

a day ago

After the release of Animal, a divisive hit directed by
Sandeep Reddy Vanga
,
Anurag Kashyap
shared a heartfelt post on Instagram praising the filmmaker. Calling Vanga "honest," "vulnerable," and "lovely," Kashyap's comments stirred reactions from the
film industry
. Filmmakers Neeraj Ghaywan and
Varun Grover
responded critically in the comments—Ghaywan wrote 'Cringe' and Grover simply commented 'No.' Months later, Grover elaborated on the reasons behind his reaction during an interview with The Lallantop.
Speaking about his comment to
The Lallantop
, Grover clarified that he did not object to someone defending a piece of art, even if it's politically incorrect or divisive. However, his issue lay in the fact that Kashyap's post did not discuss Animal or its content—it instead focused entirely on Sandeep Reddy Vanga's character. According to Grover, it was less about standing by a film and more about standing by a person who, in his view, has behaved poorly in public.
Grover pointed to multiple instances where Vanga had engaged in aggressive exchanges on social media. 'Kai badtameeziyan ki hai,' saying he recalled that the director had once even criticized veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, claiming Akhtar did not know how to write and lacked understanding of the craft. Grover described these comments as delivered in an unnecessarily arrogant and disrespectful tone. This behavior, he said, went beyond artistic differences and entered the realm of personal disrespect and social misconduct.
Kashyap's Response to Grover's Comment
After Grover's comment on the Instagram post, Anurag Kashyap personally reached out to him. Within half an hour of the comment being posted, Kashyap called Grover to discuss the issue. According to Grover, the conversation was constructive. Kashyap reportedly listened attentively and acknowledged Grover's perspective, agreeing that the criticism made sense. Grover appreciated Kashyap's openness and willingness to engage in dialogue without letting hierarchy interfere, noting that Kashyap's egalitarian approach sets him apart in the industry.
Vanga's Reputation and Film Legacy
Sandeep Reddy Vanga has gained a reputation for his controversial public image and the intense themes in his films. Animal, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol, was a massive box office success in 2023. However, the film also drew sharp criticism for its depiction of violence and misogyny. Despite the polarized response, a sequel is already in development.
More recently, Vanga has been involved in another controversy over his upcoming film Spirit with Prabhas. Initially linked to Deepika Padukone, the project saw a change in casting with Triptii Dimri replacing her. Reports suggested that Padukone requested shorter work hours post childbirth, which led to her exit. Vanga's cryptic social media posts accusing Padukone of 'dirty PR' and leaking the film's plot further intensified industry conversations around his behavior.