“Don’t try to be my Shrink,” Ranvir Shorey destroys Anurag Kashyap in Twitter spat over Kangana’s statements

Kangana Ranaut’s interview to Republic TV has sent ripples across Bollywood, and many individuals who think of themselves as ‘outliers’ are being seen getting excessively defensive, even when they are not directly being named. While Ranaut named and shamed the ‘biggies’ of Mumbai’s star-studded industry, Ranvir Shorey merely gave his opinion on the raging debate, without naming anybody, and in a vague manner at best, took down self-proclaimed independent filmmakers. However, not being directly named did not stop film director Anurag Kashyap from taking grave offence, and initiating an unprecedented meltdown on his part.

In a tweet, film actor Ranvir Shorey said, “So many independent-film-crusaders have turned mainstream-bollywood-flunkies now. These are the same people who used to rant 24/7 about the “system” for attention before they were given entry into the pearly gates of mainstream Bollywood. #Hypocrisy much?”

As can be seen, Ranvir Shorey’s tweet is very general in nature, and he can be referring to any erstwhile “independent filmmaker” who for so long was under the shroud of an anti-establishment crusader, but who, as soon as being given a ticket entry into mainstream Bollywood, had a complete transformation. Being anti-establishment (post-2014) can serve as a great enabler of getting a lateral entry into Bollywood and making a name for oneself easily.

Anurag Kashyap, much like an uninvited guest, took offence to Shorey’s tweet, and initiated a war of words between the two. Quoting Shorey’s tweet, Kashyap said, “Do you really mean that @RanvirShorey. If you do please explain. Please say exactly what you mean and whose flunky is who?”

This led to a long-drawn argument between the two, in which Ranvir Shorey absolutely destroyed Anurag Kashyap. Anurag Kashyap probed Shorey, and tried to get a name out of the film actor, who dared present his opinion on social media. Apparently, Anurag Kashyap did not like the usage of the work ‘flunky’, and seemed keen to know who was being referenced to by the word. However, Shorey made it clear that it was beneath him to take names, and that his tweet did not lack any clarity. He also added that he was not trying to sling mud, rather merely remind people of where they came from, before being consumed by the stardom of Bollywood.

By now, Ranvir Shorey had tolerated enough of Anurag’s inanity, and as a result, completely destroying the ‘Bombay Velvet’ maker, said that Anurag Kashyap would be well advised to not think of himself to be the lone carrier of the mantle of independent filmmaking. Shorey also said that independent cinema has, and always will remain more than Kashyap. As a result of this complete obliteration, Kashyap was force to lower his aggressive tone, and behave in a manner in which reasonable discourse should be carried forward. Finally, throwing in the classic line, Kashyap “agreed to disagree” with Shorey.

While Anurag Kashyap presumably thought that he could easily bully Ranvir Shorey with his tone and larger follower count on Twitter, it perhaps was given a miss by the Bombay Velvet maker that all individuals are free to air their opinions in a democracy, which Kashyap and his ilk so passionately claim is under threat under a ‘fascist’ regime.