Actor Kunal Kapoor has criticised Elon Musk’s approach towards countries that do not immediately accommodate his ambitions, describing it as a “saviour complex” associated with Western tech billionaires. In a pointed social media post, Kunal drew parallels between Musk’s past controversies in Thailand and Brazil and his ongoing push to secure approval for Starlink’s satellite internet services in India. He argued that the assumption that a country needs to be rescued by a powerful outsider reflects a colonial mindset.
“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,” Kunal wrote.
The actor went on to cite the 2018 Thai cave rescue, during which Musk proposed a mini-submarine to help rescue a group of boys trapped underground. The device was not used, and British diver Vernon Unsworth, who was involved in the rescue effort, described the proposal as impractical. Musk subsequently attacked Unsworth on social media, referring to him as the “pedo guy”. Kunal also referenced Musk’s dispute with Brazil’s Supreme Court, after the billionaire criticised a judge over rulings concerning his social media platform, X.
“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.’ When Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered X to comply with its rulings, Musk called the judge a ‘dictator.’ The script rarely changes. Only the country does,” Kunal wrote.
He concluded his post by explaining what he believes lies at the heart of this behaviour. “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.
Kunal’s comments come amid a public dispute over Starlink’s entry into India. This week, Musk accused unnamed Indian business interests of obstructing the satellite internet service’s launch to protect existing telecom monopolies. He has questioned why Starlink is still awaiting final approval despite what he describes as five years of compliance with Indian laws and requirements. Musk has also argued that the service could improve connectivity for people in rural and underserved areas, benefiting education and businesses that lack reliable internet access.
However, the Indian government has rejected allegations of discrimination, stating that the regulatory framework for satellite communications is fair and non-discriminatory. Authorities have said that Starlink and other licensed satellite operators are undergoing security assessments and remain at broadly the same stage of the approval process. Final security clearances and spectrum-related requirements must be addressed before commercial services can begin.
Through his post, Kunal has questioned the broader attitude he believes can emerge when powerful technology entrepreneurs encounter regulatory resistance in countries where they want to operate. His argument centres on the distinction between offering technological solutions and assuming that local institutions must be wrong when they do not immediately agree. By connecting the current Starlink debate with earlier controversies involving Musk, the actor has framed the issue as one of national institutions, corporate influence and the assumptions that accompany promises of progress.