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Actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar recently opened up about one of the most controversial films of 2023, the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga . Farhan said that the film didn’t resonate with him and called Ranbir’s character “problematic”. In an interview with Faye D’Souza, Farhan said, “The film didn’t do much for me. Is it something that I would recommend somebody to watch, I guess not.” When asked if he had the opportunity to produce Animal, he answered, “No, I won’t. it doesn’t resonate with me. For me, I feel that the character is problematic.” Animal ignited a debate on social media, with many credible voices, including Javed Akhtar and Swanand Kirkire, slamming the movie for its perceived misogyny and violence. The gender politics of the film, much like Vanga’s previous hit Kabir Singh, remained a talking point for months after its release in December, last year. Farhan had earlier reacted to the emergence of “alpha male” characters in films like Animal. In an interaction with YouTuber Raj Shamani, he was asked about his take on Ranbir Kapoor’s character Ranvijay. He had said, “I don’t believe that some things should not be shown. We are in a field where, if someone tells me, ‘You can’t make a film like this’, then I’ll be like, ‘Who are you to tell me what I should and should not make?’ I am permitted by the laws of this country, and I have the freedom of artistic expression to say whatever I want.” “What the audience wants to listen to, that they’ll decide. I’d never ever tell any filmmaker or writer or producer or anyone, ‘Yaar don’t make this’, or, ‘This kind of movie can’t be made’. To each their own, because I don’t feel that’s right and that’s a dangerous thing to do,” he added. Ranbir, too, had addressed the criticism that Animal had received during its run. In an interview with entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, he said, “Social media played havoc. They need something to talk about, so they really went to town claiming it was a misogynistic film. What happens is that the hard work that you put in… I know the director had made Kabir Singh, which also faced the same thing, the hard work gets diminished. Because it gets this tag, which isn’t true, the perception stayed with this film. So, the general public will speak very fondly about the film, but there are many people I meet, who tell me, ‘You shouldn’t have done this film, we are so disappointed in you’. And a lot of people from the film industry (said the same thing). I quietly apologize and say, ‘Sorry I won’t do it next time.’ I don’t really agree with them, but I am in that phase of my life I don’t argue with anyone. If you don’t like my work, I will say I am sorry I will try harder next time.” Ranbir’s Animal made over Rs 900 crore worldwide. The film also starred Rashmika Mandanna, Triptii Dimri, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor, among others. On the other hand, Farhan is gearing up to make his directorial comeback with Don 3 and Jee Le Zaraa. Click for more updates and latest Bollywood news along with Entertainment updates . Also get latest news and top headlines from India and around the world at The Indian Express . None
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