Yashica Dutt slams Made In Heaven creators and Anurag Kashyap over their response to the credit controversy

The controversy surrounding Yashica Dutt and her allegations against the makers of Made in Heaven Season 2 has taken a new and compelling turn, as she responds to both filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's remarks and the joint statement from the show's creators.

The author of Coming Out as Dalit, has not shied away from the heated debate, defending her claims of her life story being appropriated without credit in the series' fifth episode, titled 'The Heart Skipped a Beat.' 

READ MORE: Dalit writer Yashica Dutt calls out Prime for no credit in Made in Heaven for Radhika Apte character

In response to the Made In Heaven controversy, the Gangs of Wasseypur director expressed his ‘concern’ for those attacked and affected by the situation. He noted how he had witnessed Neeraj Ghaywan's journey to find the courage to speak up and saw him face cancellation on social media in a short span. 

Kashyap questioned the motives behind the attack, suggesting that some might be driven by a quest for validation rather than genuine concern for the issue. He criticised such behaviour, labelling it opportunistic rather than rooted in a true desire for representation and change.

Anurag's past collaborations with Neeraj Ghaywan underscored his support for the director, making his response to the controversy both personal and professional. 

The controversy emerged from Yashica Dutt's demand for recognition, claiming that she inspired a character and storyline in a Made in Heaven episode but wasn't credited. The situation escalated when the show's makers denied these claims.

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Kashyap's dismissive stance not only downplays the issue at hand but also showcases a remarkable talent for twisting logic into a pretzel of confusion. Asking whether the controversy is "really that big of an issue" while simultaneously chastising the one who's raising the concern is a masterstroke in doublespeak.

In a realm where acknowledgement is the currency of respect, Kashyap's insensitivity adds a rather unfortunate layer of comedy. It really takes some special skill to turn a conversation about rightful credit into a debate about validation-seeking.

Addressing Kashyap's remarks that she is seeking validation rather than justice, Yashica Dutt firmly counters that her demand for acknowledgment is rooted in principles of credit and respect. She asserts that this is not an issue open for debate; it is about the rightful recognition of her work, ideas, and experiences. 

In her detailed statement, Yashica narrates her meeting with Alankrita Shrivastava, the writer and director of the show. She outlines how Shrivastava engaged her in a five-hour conversation, extracting personal details from her life while withholding her intentions for the show. This narrative underscores the exploitation and appropriation of marginalised experiences, where the voices of those directly affected are co-opted without due credit.

Furthermore, Yashica’s response highlights the urgency to cease the appropriation of Dalit narratives and labour. She calls into question the 'progressive' image of indie Bollywood and the complicity of even those perceived as 'vanguards' in silencing marginalised voices. Her words resonate as she proclaims that her narrative, and those of countless others like her, are not commodities to be taken without permission.

In her counter-narrative, Yashica also addresses the joint statement released by Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Alankrita Srivastava, and Neeraj Ghaywan, wherein they sought to attribute inspiration to multiple sources.

• She meticulously unravels this argument, asserting that the show's attempt to associate the character's use of the term 'coming out' with prior articles doesn't diminish her book's role in popularising the term in the context of Dalit identity.
• Her assertion is backed by the fact that her book was a pioneering effort that brought this term to the forefront of discussions around Dalit experiences.

Beyond the particulars of her case, Yashica Dutt's response resonates as a broader advocacy for the recognition of marginalised narratives in the entertainment industry. Her eloquent statement is not just about her own work but is emblematic of the larger fight against cultural appropriation and the erasure of marginalised experiences.