Writer Apurva Asrani is permanantly deleting his social media account: 'We're constantly made to surrender'

Apurva Asrani (Pic/Instagram)

Bollywood writer Apurva Asrani has seemingly had enough of social media, particularly Instagram. Known for penning the screenplay of acclaimed works such as Manoj Bajpayee's Aligarh (2015) as well as the web show Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, the writer recently announced that he is deactivating his personal account on the social media platform beginning May 8.

Apurva Asrani to delete his Instagram account

Apurva shared a note on his Instagram account on Thursday morning that read, "I am deleting this Instagram account. From tomorrow, May 8, 2026, this Instagram account will be permanently deleted. You can follow me on my other account", followed by the username of his professional account.

In the caption, he wrote, "It's been a fun 10-year Instagram journey, but this page, apurva_asrani, will be permanently deleted starting tomorrow, 8th May 2026. You can follow me on my work account, apurvaasranifilms, where I'll continue sharing updates on films, writing and creative work. I also have a fairly quiet Twitter account that occasionally wakes up for work announcements. Thank you for the conversations, the warmth, the disagreements and for staying through all the plot twists of the last decade."

Apurva Asrani reveals reason for quitting social media

He opened up about the reason behind his decision in a conversation with Hindustan Times. He explained, "Social media today feels very different from what I originally signed up for. It used to be a space for expression and connection… now it increasingly feels controlled by algorithms, trends or even invisible business interests. I feel there's very little space left online for nuance, authenticity or originality. If I genuinely want to express something meaningful today, I would rather write an article, a screenplay or make a film. Those spaces still allow for depth and complexity in ways social media doesn't anymore."

Apurva also cited issues of surveillance and privacy, adding, "We are constantly made to surrender more and more of our personal selves in exchange for visibility and engagement. Today, even our private messages can be read against our will. I'm personally uncomfortable with that, which is why I've chosen to step away from using social media as a personal space. My Instagram work handle is functioning, though, and so is my Twitter. I will be happy to engage in a more professional manner."