Actor Kunal Kapoor has criticised Elon Musk amid the ongoing debate over Starlink’s proposed entry into India, calling out what he described as the “saviour complex of Western tech billionaires”. In a strongly worded social media post, Kunal drew parallels between Musk’s past controversies in Thailand and Brazil and his recent remarks about the regulatory hurdles facing Starlink in India. His comments come after Kamal Haasan also weighed in on the controversy.
Kunal Kapoor calls out Elon Musk’s ‘saviour complex ’
Kunal questioned the approach of powerful technology entrepreneurs who enter countries promising progress but react sharply when local institutions challenge their plans. He suggested that the response to such resistance reflects an expectation that countries should welcome these figures as problem-solvers without questioning their methods.“Watching Elon Musk this week has been a fascinating character study in the saviour complex of Western tech billionaires. They arrive in your country selling you the future. Welcome them, and you’re a country that wants progress. Make them wait, and suddenly your people are victims who need rescuing from their own institutions by the chosen one,” he wrote.The actor argued that the pattern extends beyond India, pointing to earlier disputes involving Musk in Thailand and Brazil.
Kunal Kapoor recalls Elon Musk’s Thailand cave rescue controversy
Kunal referred to the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand, during which 12 young football players and their coach were trapped inside a cave complex. Musk offered a mini-submarine to assist with the rescue, but the device was not used. British diver Vernon Unsworth, who participated in the operation, questioned its practicality. Musk subsequently attacked Unsworth on social media, prompting widespread criticism.Referring to the episode, Kunal wrote, “It’s a pattern. When Thai rescuers didn’t use the mini-submarine Musk sent for the trapped boys, and diver Vernon Unsworth called the idea impractical, Musk attacked him as the ‘pedo guy.’”The actor invoked the incident to support his argument that Musk’s response to criticism follows a recurring pattern.
Kunal Kapoor cites Elon Musk’s dispute with Brazil’s Supreme Court
Kunal also pointed to Musk’s 2024 dispute with Brazil’s Supreme Court over orders concerning X, formerly Twitter. The platform was suspended in Brazil after it failed to comply with court orders, including requirements relating to legal representation. Musk publicly criticised the court and its judge during the dispute.“The script rarely changes. Only the country does,” Kunal wrote, drawing a comparison between the Brazil controversy and the current debate over Starlink in India.He further explained what he meant by a colonial mindset, arguing that it need not involve an explicit desire to govern another country.“The colonial mindset isn’t always about wanting to rule a country. Sometimes it’s the assumption that you arrive as its saviour, and if the country doesn’t immediately recognise you as one, something must be wrong with the country,” he added.
What is the Starlink row in India?
Kunal’s remarks come amid a public dispute over the delay in launching Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Musk’s SpaceX, in India. Musk has alleged that powerful business interests are obstructing the company’s entry to protect their market positions, although he has not publicly substantiated those allegations.The Indian government has rejected claims of discriminatory treatment, stating that the satellite communications approval process is fair and non-discriminatory. Authorities have said that Starlink and other licensed satellite communication operators are at broadly similar stages of the regulatory process, with security clearances and spectrum-related requirements still to be addressed.
