Prime Video responds to Shekhar Kapur's allegations of editing Bandit Queens: 'Not made any edits to the version'

A Prime Video spokesperson said in a statement that the streaming version of the 1994 movie was provided by NH Studioz, its distributor.

Streaming giant Prime Video responded to filmmaker Shekhar Kapur’s allegations on March 24, that portions of his film Bandit Queen were cut without his consent. The platform clarified that it had not made any edits to the version available for streaming.

A Prime Video spokesperson said in a statement that the streaming version of the 1994 movie was provided by NH Studioz, its distributor. "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," the Prime Video spokesperson said in a statement.

Shekhar Kapur, on Sunday, took to X and alleged that the streaming version of Bandit Queen is "unrecognisable" from the movie he originally directed and that it was edited without his permission. "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?" he wrote in his post.

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 https://t.co/LoYtkddlvp

Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) March 18, 2025

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta also took to X and shared his thoughts in support of Shekhar Kapur questioning the streaming platform of editing the film without permission. He wrote, "It is sad to know that a film that should always be India’s pride gets treated this way. But then what’s new? We’ve become so used to being treated as slaves of the west. No protest. No pushback. Total submission. Because they are doing us a favour. Our integrity as artistes is neither protected by us or by a guild that could potentially protect us. The so-called ‘association’ is busy behaving like a political party or stoking divisive propaganda. In the meanwhile directors are rendered powerless and bereft of any support system. Maybe your status as one of the countries foremost artistic spokesperson to the world and as a government decorated Padmabhushan will help bring about change. Until then back to our submissive selves? Members of the new content driven colony that creates cattle feed to drive subscriptions while fulfilling the artistic ambitions of its western masters."

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The director, also known for films such as "Masoom", "Mr India", the Cate Blanchett-starrer period drama franchise "Elizabeth", and "What's Love Got to Do with It?", asked whether OTT platforms would do the same with a film by Hollywood great Christopher Nolan

Critically acclaimed Bandit Queen revolved around the life of Phoolan Devi, the dreaded Chambal dacoit-turned-Member of Parliament. Actor Seema Biswas played the titular role in the film, which generated a massive worldwide buzz following its premiere in Directors’ Fortnight section of the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.