Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Social Media Spats Spark Debate Among Filmmakers

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for his controversial films Arjun Reddy and Animal, has once again found himself in the spotlight—but this time, not for his filmmaking. A recent social media debate involving top voices from the Indian film industry has ignited discussion about Vanga’s public behavior and how artists are perceived in the digital age.

When Animal was released in 2023, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had praised Vanga in a heartfelt Instagram post, calling him “the most misunderstood, judged, and reviled filmmaker at the moment.” Kashyap lauded Vanga’s honesty and vulnerability, emphasizing that he is “a person you can confront and talk to.”

However, the post sparked a backlash.

Director Neeraj Ghaywan commented with a sharp “cringe,” while lyricist Varun Grover simply wrote “No.” In a later interview, Grover clarified that he didn’t object to Vanga’s work specifically, but to the way Kashyap was defending the filmmaker and not the film.

Grover elaborated, “There’s a difference between defending a piece of art and defending its creator’s behavior. Kashyap’s post was all about Sandeep’s personality and public demeanor—not a word about Animal itself.”

Grover also criticized Vanga’s online conduct, citing instances where he engaged in social media feuds and made arrogant remarks, including one against veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, allegedly saying Akhtar “can’t write” or lacks “a sense of writing.”

Following the incident, Kashyap reportedly called Grover for a direct conversation. Grover revealed that Kashyap understood his viewpoint and acknowledged the nuance behind the comment. “Anurag has a clear heart and mind. He sees people and situations with clarity,” Grover added, noting that the two have had multiple conversations about the subject since then.

The controversy once again opens up a broader conversation about how artists behave in public, how they are defended, and whether their demeanor should be separated from their creative output.