Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal released in theatres in December last year. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Triptii Dimri, Prem Chopra, and Suresh Oberoi among others. Animal became one of the top-grossing Hindi films of 2023. (Also Read | Celebs ‘cringe’ as Anurag Kashyap praises Animal and Sandeep Reddy Vanga)
It has, however, been criticised by a section of viewers and critics for its poor portrayal of women, misogyny, and graphic violence. Many celebrities, including Javed Akhtar, Konkona Sensharma, Kangana Ranaut, Taapsee Pannu, and RJ Balaji among others slammed the film.
1) Javed Akhtar
While talking at the Ajanta Ellora International Film Festival in Aurangabad, Javed Akhtar talked about the kind of films that gain success today. Without naming Animal, the veteran lyricist and screenwriter said, "I believe it’s a testing time for the young filmmakers today as to what kind of characters they want to create that the society will applaud. For instance, if there’s a film in which a man asks a woman to lick his shoe or if a man says it’s okay to slap a woman, and if the film is a super duper hit, then that’s very dangerous.”
Javed was referring to a key scene in Animal, where the film's lead character Rannvijay (Ranbir Kapoor) asked his girlfriend Zoya (Triptii Dimri) to lick his shoes to prove her love for him. The slapping was seemingly in reference to Sandeep’s 2019 film Kabir Singh, which starred Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani.
2) Kangana Ranaut
2) Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut, responding to a fan, wrote on X, “Paid negativity for my films is overwhelming, I have been fighting hard so far but even audiences are encouraging women beating films where they are treated like sex objects and asked to lick shoes, this is deeply discouraging for someone who has been dedicating her life for woman empowerment films, might shift career in coming years, want to give best years of my life to something worthwhile.”
She had also said, “The latest trend of films where women are reduced to mere flower on the wall, violently and disgracefully stripped of their dignity and clothes is beyond appalling. Reminds me of the time when I entered films, vulgar item numbers, quick in and out sleazy and dumb roles against older men were prevalent."
3) Konkona Sensharma
3) Konkona Sensharma
During ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Konkona Sensharma said, “I don't want to see violence just for the sake of it. There has to be a reason why it's there in the film, because it connects to the character, it connects to the plot or whatever, it has to justify itself. That is one thing. Why is it there? What is the intent of the director? But from what I understand, I may be mistaken, I have not watched Animal because I don't feel it's my kind of film."
"I haven't really been drawn to it even from the reviews an things. Also, I am aware of his previous work and he stands by that work, the director, where stalking has been glorified, certain violence has been made acceptable in relationships, and that's not what I stand for. If it's done very well, I don't mind watching it. But that's not what I have heard," she had said.
4) Taapsee Pannu
4) Taapsee Pannu
In an interview with Raj Shamani on his YouTube channel, Taapsee Pannu said that she didn't watch the film. She had added, “Lot of people told me too much about it (Animal). Look, I am not an extremist, so I agree to disagree to a lot of people... don't compare it to Hollywood and say 'If you liked Gone Girl, how can you not like Animal'? You are catering to a different audience."
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