Varun Grover has criticized Anurag Kashyap for his support of Sandeep Reddy Vanga, following a social media post where Anurag Kashyap defended the controversial “Animal” director. The discussion around the Anurag Kashyap defends Sandeep Reddy Vanga controversy has continued to draw attention, with Varun Grover shedding light on why he publicly disagreed with Kashyap’s actions.
Disagreement Over Support on Social Media
Varun Grover recently elaborated on his response to Anurag Kashyap’s defense of Sandeep Reddy Vanga, after a photo of Kashyap and Vanga together was posted with a caption defending the filmmaker. Grover initially commented “No” under the post, indicating his disapproval. Explaining further, Grover said,
“I have always believed that I am never against or in support of a person. I’m always either in favor of an idea or against it. I thought in that post, Mr. Kashyap was not defending the film, but the filmmaker. There was nothing in the post about the film, but all about the filmmaker.”
—Varun Grover, Writer-Filmmaker.
Concerns Over Vanga’s Public Behavior
Varun Grover addressed not only the content of the social media post but also Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s conduct in the public sphere. He stated,
“He is a filmmaker who, on Twitter or social media, has engaged in fights and behaved obnoxiously. If I recall correctly, he even told Javed saab that he can’t write or doesn’t have a sense of writing, and he said it very arrogantly and rudely. So, I thought, if Mr. Kashyap had defended the film in any way, it would have been fine. I would’ve never said anything. I said ‘No’ because I thought: you are shielding the filmmaker, not the film.”
—Varun Grover, Writer-Filmmaker.
Direct Dialogue Between Grover and Kashyap
Following Grover’s public comment, Anurag Kashyap reached out directly to continue the discussion. Varun recalled,
“So, within half an hour, he called and said, ‘Explain to me. What happened? What’s the problem here?’ So, we talked, and he agreed, he said, ‘Yeah, you’re in the right.’ Even later, I went to meet him and we’ve talked about it many times since then.”
—Varun Grover, Writer-Filmmaker. This exchange highlights the ongoing dialogue between the two filmmakers about public responsibility and support in controversies.
Anurag Kashyap’s Perspective on Sandeep Reddy Vanga
The issue traces back to January of the previous year, when Anurag Kashyap met Sandeep Reddy Vanga following the release of “Animal,” a film criticized for its depiction of misogyny. Kashyap posted photos with Vanga on Instagram and expressed his views openly:
“The most misunderstood, judged and reviled filmmaker at the moment. To me he is the most honest, vulnerable and a lovely person. I wanted to meet the man and I had questions and he answered everything I asked of him about his film that I actually saw twice.”
—Anurag Kashyap, Filmmaker. This public defense was a substantial point of contention for Grover and others in the industry.
Wider Impact and Continuing Debate
The public discussion involving Varun Grover, Anurag Kashyap, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga raises ongoing questions about the nature of support within the film industry, personal accountability, and how filmmakers respond to controversies. With prominent voices weighing in, the Anurag Kashyap defends Sandeep Reddy Vanga controversy is likely to remain a point of discussion among audiences and within creative circles.
