Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, co-creator of the popular Netflix India original Sacred Games, has sharply criticised Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos over recent comments made about the show. Kashyap didn’t hold back, expressing his frustration, calling Sarandos “the definition of dumb.”
The 2018 crime thriller series Sacred Games, starring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, marked Netflix’s first foray into original Indian content. The first season received widespread praise, but the second season failed to meet expectations, leading to the cancellation of a third season.
Kashyap shared a screenshot of a news article quoting Sarandos, wrote online: “I always knew the tech guys are dumb when it comes to storytelling but Ted Sarandos is the definition of dumb is what I didn’t know. Good to discover that. This explains everything now.”
He sarcastically added that Netflix probably should have gone with a “Saas-Bahu” show to begin with. “Which he is doing now,” Kashyap wrote, referencing the streaming platform’s new collaboration with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms.
What Did Ted Sarandos Say?
Speaking on a podcast, Sarandos expressed doubt over Sacred Games being Netflix India’s first original. “For me, if I did it all over again, would I have done Sacred Games a couple of years later, and did things that were more populist (instead)? Maybe,” Sarandos said.
Yet, at a recent Netflix event titled “Streaming the New India,” Sarandos also acknowledged the show’s importance: “We took our big swing seven years ago with Sacred Games. And I knew that India would be a very important part of our journey. What we found with Sacred Games is that great stories could transcend borders, languages, and cultures, and really talk to the world. Sacred Games proved that.”
Fans Rally Behind Kashyap
Anurag received a lot of support from fans. One user commented, “Sacred Games was a doorway to web series in India. Always a fan.” Another wrote, “Sacred Games was and is the top-class series.. has a special place for years!”
Others criticised Sarandos’ remark, with a user joking: “Imagine not starting with Sacred Games.” Another added, “Let’s grab some chairs and watch Netflix’s downfall in India.”
