Bollywood filmmaker cum actor Anurag Kashyap has no association to upcoming Hindi movie Phule, but found himself in the center of a controversy, after he took to his social media to slam the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India over the cuts its suggested to the film Phule.  

Starring actors Prathik Gandhi and Patralekha in the lead, Phule written and directed by Ananth Mahadevan, is a biopic on anti-caste activists from Maharasthra—Jyotirao Phule, and Savitribai Phule. Savitribai Phule also fought for womens' rights in 1800s India, and was the first female teacher of the country. 

Phule the movie was initially scheduled to release on April 11, 2025, but was met with opposition from the Brahmin community in North India. This lead to the CBFC suggesting heavy censors for the movie, which was called out by Anurag Kashyap on his Instagram page. Kashyap, who himself belongs to the Brahmin community took pot-shots at the CBFC, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-lead BJP government, over their proclamations of castes being non-existent in India. 

This lead to a heated exchange between Hindi-speaking social media users and Kashyap. One user ended up commenting, "Brahmins are your fathers. The more you mess with/smoke them, the more they will burn you". Anurag Kashyap retaliated to this comment by writing, "I would urinate on Brahmins, any problem?". 

Outrage erupted over this very public statement of Kashyap's, and the actor-director drew massive criticism with Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubey who called Kashyap 'a vile scumbag'. "This vile scumbag (Anurag Kashyap) thinks he can spit filth on the entire Brahmin community and get away with it? If he doesn't issue a public apology immediately, I swear I'll make sure he finds no peace anywhere. Enough of this gutter mouth's hate, we won't stay silent", said the junior minister in the Coal Ministry.

Phule is now releasing on April 25, 2025. On Good Friday, Anurag Kashyap once again took to his Instagram page to issue an apology. His statement reads, "This is my apology, not for my post but for that one line taken out of context and the brewing hatred. No action or speech is worth your daughter, family, friends, and colleagues getting rape and death threats from the kingpins of sanskar," 

"I won't take back what I said. Abuse me all you want. My family didn't say anything. If you want an apology, here it is. Brahmins, spare the women. These values are imbibed in our scriptures, too, except for Manuwaad. Decide which Brahmin you are. Rest, here's an apology from me", Anurag Kashyap added. 

I have relocated cities.i have not left filmmaking . For all the people who think I am frustrated and gone . I am here and I am busier than shah rukh khan ( I have to be, I don’t make
As much money😂) I don’t have dates until 2028. I have five directorial hopefully coming out…

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) April 17, 2025