Anurag Kashyap Criticizes Netflix Over Premium Access to TV Classics

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has reignited his criticism of global streaming giant Netflix, accusing the platform of pushing filmmakers to compromise their storytelling and shifting toward mainstream entertainment at a premium cost. Speaking on Komal Nahta’s podcast Game Changers, Kashyap said Netflix has lost its unique creative edge and is now trying to appeal to the mass audience by acquiring popular Indian television shows such as CID, Crime Patrol, and The Great Indian Kapil Show.

Kashyap, who previously collaborated with Netflix on acclaimed titles like Sacred Games, Lust Stories, and Ghost Stories, said his “worst experiences” in filmmaking were with the platform. The director alleged that Netflix interferes in the creative process by dictating casting and narrative choices. “They tell you who to cast and how to tell your story. Many filmmakers, not just me, have stepped back from working with them,” he explained.

The outspoken director also criticized the streamer’s recent strategy of acquiring mass-market shows and placing them behind a paywall. He argued that such content was once freely available to millions of Indian households and accused Netflix of stripping that accessibility for profit. “Earlier, audiences could watch Kapil Sharma or CID for free on TV. Now they’re being asked to pay. Netflix wants to be massy at a premium cost — but that audience won’t follow,” Kashyap remarked.

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Kashyap contrasted Netflix’s approach with other streaming services like Disney+ Hotstar and MX Player, which, he said, maintain a clear identity without pretending to be elitist. He described Hotstar as “always massy” and lauded MX Player for offering free access to content, calling out Netflix for confusing its audience by trying to blend prestige storytelling with mass-market entertainment.

Despite his criticism, Kashyap continues to be one of India’s most influential auteur filmmakers. His latest project, Nishaanchi, is set for release on Amazon Prime Video on November 14, further highlighting his shift toward platforms that, in his words, give creators “more breathing room.” The debate his comments have sparked reflects a growing tension among Indian filmmakers about creative control and the evolving dynamics of the streaming industry in India.

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