Anurag Kashyap Vows To Mind His Words After Backlash Over 'Brahmin' Remark: 'Forgot My Limits'

Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has issued an apology for a remark deemed casteist towards the Brahmin community.

The 'Gangs of Wasseypur' director had controversially said he would "urinate on Brahmins" while replying to a user during an online debate surrounding the film 'Phule'.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

Kashyap acknowledged that he had let anger get the better of him and, in doing so, ended up offending an entire community.

"In anger, I forgot my limits while replying to someone. I spoke badly about the entire Brahmin community. That community, whose many people have been in my life, are still there and contribute a lot. Today, they are hurt by me. My family is hurt by me. Many intellectuals, whom I respect, are hurt by my anger and the way I spoke," he stated.

The comment in question was made in response to a social media user who said, "Brahmins are your fathers".

In his apology, the filmmaker clarified that his offensive remark stemmed from this "cheap comment" and was not directed at the community as a whole. He admitted that he had veered away from the issue at hand through the use of inappropriate language.

"I sincerely apologise to this society to whom I did not want to say this, but wrote it in anger while responding to someone's cheap comment. I apologise to all my friends, my family, and the society for my way of speaking and for the abusive language," he said.

Kashyap further pledged to work on managing his anger and said he would ensure such an incident does not happen again. He added that if he were to speak on similar issues in future, he would choose the "right words".

His apology comes in the wake of significant backlash. Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubey had condemned him as a "vile scumbag" and demanded a public apology. Additionally, a police complaint was lodged against him in Jaipur.

In an earlier response to the criticism, Kashyap had posted what he termed an "apology", although it included veiled jabs. He clarified that the apology was not for his entire post, but rather for "one line taken out of context and the brewing hatred".

Following the remark, Kashyap revealed that his family and friends had been subjected to rape and death threats. He said the situation was not worth it, and pleaded with people to "spare the women".

The row comes against the backdrop of a wider controversy surrounding 'Phule', a film based on the lives of social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. The movie, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha, is set for release on 25 April, but has faced censorship following objections by Brahmin groups who argue that the film promotes casteism.