Animal: Farhan Akhtar says Ranbir Kapoor and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film ‘didn’t work’ for him personally; ‘I feel that the character is problematic’

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Animal: Farhan Akhtar says Ranbir Kapoor and Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film 'didn't work' for him personally; 'I feel that the character is problematic'

As a film enthusiast with decades of experience in the industry, I’ve seen it all – from the golden age of Bollywood to the rise of new-age cinema. Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, released in 2023, has been quite the talk of the town, and after much contemplation, I find myself in a peculiar position regarding this film.

In 2023, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s movie titled Animal hit the screens. Even half a year later, discussions about this film directed by Vanga continue unabated. The audience reactions towards Animal have been varied, with some viewers criticizing it for portraying harmful masculinity and misogyny, featuring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. Recently, Farhan Akhtar, following Mahesh Bhatt and Arshad Warsi, has joined the chorus of celebrities expressing their views on the film. According to Farhan, the movie didn’t resonate with him personally, and he found the character played by Ranbir Kapoor, Ranvijay Singh, troubling.

In a recent chat with Faye D’Souza, Farhan Akhtar was asked for his thoughts on the Ranbir Kapoor film, Animal. Farhan expressed that he appreciated Ranbir’s acting, the music, and S. S. Rajamouli’s dedication to directing the 2023 production. However, as a filmmaker himself, Farhan didn’t encourage people to watch it.

1. Farhan expressed that the movie wasn’t particularly appealing to him and he probably wouldn’t suggest others watch it. When asked if he could produce the film ‘Animal’, he stated that he wouldn’t do so because he didn’t connect with it and found the character questionable for his personal tastes.

Instead, the director-actor expressed his disapproval of revealing the dos and don’ts of filmmaking to other directors, arguing that each person embarks on their own unique journey in this field. He admitted that he finds such practices distasteful and regrettably, there seems to be no remedy for it.

The director of Don 3 also shared that he found it “on a personal level” difficult to work with Animal, while acknowledging that Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s faith in the film is admirable. Despite appreciating his dedication, Farhan assumed that Vanga may have encountered instances where people didn’t react positively towards the storyline. He further stated that it was likely Vanga still felt compelled to direct the 2023 movie despite these potential negative interactions.

Previously, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt discussed the varied reactions towards Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s movie, Animal, since its premiere. In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Bhatt commented that such responses are typical of the entertainment industry and likened it to a “contest” or “competition”. Bhatt further stated that there are two types of individuals: those who revel in your downfall and those who rejoice in your success.

In relation to Ranbir Kapoor’s acting in the movie, Mahesh Bhatt expressed that there are only a small number of true performers, and among these, some merely watch. Bhatt further stated that it requires a special boldness, another kind of courage, to be a performer.

In the meantime, Arshad Warsi expressed his fondness for the movie Animal, stating that he had never seen anything quite like it before. He referred to it as a “creation born from a person’s imagination.”

In the movie that released in 2023, I had the pleasure of witnessing Rashmika Mandanna shine as the leading lady. Notably, Anil Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, and Bobby Deol were essential to the plot. Anil took on the role of Ranbir’s father, while Triptii was skillfully cast as Zoya in a supporting role. Contrastingly, Bobby Deol portrayed the villainous character named Abrar Haque. Additionally, Shakti Kapoor, Prem Chopra, and Suresh Oberoi graced the screen under Vanga’s direction for this film.

Coming back to Farhan Akhtar, the actor-filmmaker has worked in movies like Rock On, Rock On 2, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Luck By Chance, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and more. He worked last as a lead in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film, Toofan in 2021.

In his latest ventures as a filmmaker, Farhan recently completed the production of Kunal Kemmu’s The Maghao Express, and has several upcoming projects lined up including Agni, Yudhra, and Ground Zero. Additionally, he is taking on the director’s role for Don 3, featuring Ranveer Singh.

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2024-08-27 00:38