New Delhi:
Months after Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal released in theaters, the conversation around it refuses to die down. The latest celebrity to join the movement is Farhan Akhtar, who said he wouldn’t recommend anyone to watch the film in an interview with Faye D’Souza. Farhan Akhtar said, “The film didn’t do much for me. Is it something I would recommend anyone to watch? I don’t think so.” When asked if he would have produced Animal, given a chance, he said, “No, I won’t. It doesn’t resonate with me. For me, I feel the character is problematic.”
This is not the first time Farhan Akhtar has expressed his views on Animal. Earlier, in an interview with YouTuber Raj Shamani, he was asked to share his thoughts on Ranbir Kapoor’s character Ranvijay. Farhan Akhtar said, “I don’t believe that some things shouldn’t be shown. We are in a field where if someone says to me, ‘You can’t make a film like this,’ then I’m like, ‘Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do?’ I am allowed by the laws of this country, and I have the freedom of artistic expression to say whatever I want.”
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal has drawn mixed opinions within the industry. Celebrities like Javed Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma have also expressed their thoughts on the film and did not approve of the film’s content. However, filmmakers like Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap have applauded the film for its style of filmmaking without delving too deep into the film’s moral framework. At the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2024, Karan Johar said, “I didn’t delve into the film’s moral message – I was so caught up in the narrative and the way the filmmaker told the story through sound design, screenplay, dialogue, character development, which as a filmmaker, I loved.”
Despite receiving critical reviews, Animal grossed a colossal amount of money at the box office. Animal also won five Filmfare Awards this year, including Ranbir Kapoor’s trophy in the Best Actor (Popular) category.