Animal has been a lightning rod for discussions, particularly concerning the portrayal of toxic masculinity since the release of its trailer. However, upon its release, the film encountered substantial backlash from audiences due to its perceived toxicity. Here, we delve into five instances where the actors stepped up to defend the movie amid heated criticisms.
1. Bobby Deol
Reacting to the backlash, Deol stated, “I am just an actor trying to entertain.” He defended the film’s narrative choices, asserting that stories are often influenced by societal realities that people may be hesitant to acknowledge. Deol emphasized the inherent complexity of storytelling and the need to address uncomfortable truths. During an interview with Zoom Entertainment, he delved deeper into his character Abrar, challenging the conventional notion of a villain. Deol explained how Abrar’s traumatic experience, witnessing his grandfather’s self-immolation, profoundly affected the character, robbing him of his voice. This trauma, coupled with a strong family orientation, romantic disposition, and a vow to avenge his grandfather’s death, added layers to Abrar, making him a multifaceted character. Deol shared an interesting anecdote from the set, revealing that even his co-star Ranbir Kapoor acknowledged the complexity of their characters during a fight sequence. “We don’t know who to sympathise with,” Ranbir remarked, highlighting the blurred lines between protagonist and antagonist in Animal.
Also Read: Internet Is Unhappy With Bobby Deol’s Limited Screen Time In Animal, Fans Say “He Made Noise With His Silence”
2. Tripti Dimri
Tripti Dimri, acclaimed for her role in Qala, addressed a specific controversial scene in Animal involving shoe licking. Dimri offered her perspective on the importance of not judging characters as an actor. She explained, “An actor must be prepared to play characters across the spectrum of good, bad, and ugly.” Dimri emphasized the necessity of approaching characters with honesty, without preconceived judgments about their motivations.
3. Mansi Taxax
Mansi Taxax, a key player in Animal, addressed the unexpected and controversial wedding scene in the film. She acknowledged the shock factor of the sequence but defended it as a deliberate narrative choice. Taxax explained that the scene aimed to signal the arrival of the antagonist, played by Bobby Deol, and set the tone for the film’s exploration of violence. She justified the narrative decision, stating, “It was to tell the audience that an animal is coming.”
4. Siddhant Karnick
Siddhant Karnick, co-star to Ranbir Kapoor in Animal, countered criticisms surrounding Ranvijay Singh’s character, dismissing the label of ‘toxic.’ Karnick portrayed Ranbir’s character as entertaining, attributing the traits to an ‘alpha male’ psyche. He defended the film’s approach, asserting, “We have no responsibility towards how society would respond to it.”
5. Saloni Batra
Saloni Batra, who plays Ranbir Kapoor’s older sister in Animal, added her perspective to the defense of the film. Batra acknowledged the flawed nature of the characters, describing them as inspirations drawn from real-life complexities. She praised director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s craftsmanship and highlighted the director’s ability to connect with the audience. Batra urged the audience to differentiate between flawed on-screen characters and real-life values, emphasizing that the portrayal of flawed characters serves as a form of entertainment.
Also Read: Tripti Dimri Talks About Shoe Licking Scene In Animal; Siddhant Karnick Says He Felt Unsettled By It. Us Too!
But here’s the thing: when actors acknowledge that their characters might not be the best role models and caution people against copying their actions, that could actually help society. However, if they defend those actions, saying they owe nothing to society, it might cause some trouble. Movies have a huge influence on how people think and act, so actors defending or acknowledging the problematic side of their characters can really shape how we all perceive things.
It’s a tricky discussion, right? It shows how movies, actors, and their portrayals in films can affect society and how we all behave. The way actors defend or acknowledge the issues with their characters can have a big impact on how we see things and how we react to them.
Animal was released worldwide on December 1st and has emerged as the highest-grossing adult-rated film in Hindi cinema.