Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recently accused Amazon Prime Video of 'cutting the film beyond recognition' before releasing it on the platform. Now, the OTT giant has responded, refuting Kapur’s claims and clarifying that they streamed the version provided by the studio that holds the film’s rights. On Monday, Prime Video released a statement addressing Kapur’s allegations. "Prime Video has not made any edits to the version of the film Bandit Queen currently streaming on the service. The version available on Prime Video is the version provided by the film’s distributor, NH Studioz," their spokesperson said. Earlier this month, Kapur took to social media to express his disappointment over the film’s editing. He wrote, "I wonder if OTT platforms would let me make #BanditQueen the way I made it years ago. The Bandit Queen on #AmazonPrime is unrecognisable from my film. Someone has cut it beyond recognition. And yet it carries my name as Director. And no one asked me! Are we lesser beings than Western Directors? Would they have the guts to cut a Chris Nolan film without his permission?" I wonder @IAmSudhirMishra if OTT platforms would let me make #BanditQueen the way I made it years ago. The Bandit Queen on #AmazonPrime is unrecognisable from my film. Someone has cut it beyond recognition. And yet it carries my name as Director. And no one asked me! Are we… — Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) March 18, 2025 In another post, he further criticized the platform, stating, "But the OTT platform cut the Censored version of #BanditQueen .. I’m not even sure they legally allowed to do that .. they just put out their own version of the film. That’s what’s so painful .. they are not even filmmakers .. just executives!" Following Kapur’s remarks, several filmmakers, including Hansal Mehta and Kunal Kohli, voiced their support for him. Bandit Queen (1994) is based on the story of the dreaded dacoit-turned-Member of Parliament Phoolan Devi. The film, starring Seema Biswas, Manoj Bajpayee and Nirmal Pandey, was premiered in Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.
