Actor Bobby Deol is riding high on the success of his latest release, ‘Animal’. However, the film has been criticised for depiction of toxic masculinity, and glorification of misogynist behaviour. Now after Triptii Dimri and Mansi Taxak, the actor has opened up about the controversial marital rape scene in his new film ‘Animal’.
In an interview with The Quint, Bobby said that he doesn’t pay attention to film reviews, and called them a ‘waste of energy’. Bobby also said that he doesn’t view his character Abrar Haque as a villain at all.
When asked about the marital rape scene in the film, Bobby said, “I’m not trying to promote anything. Yes, it was required. How do you showcase a character in such a short span, show what this man is capable of, what kind of person he is? All these scenes were required.”
Considering the Indian film audience already worships movie stars in India, has he ever thought that a film like ‘Animal’ can have an influence on the masses? To which, he said, “We are influenced by what is happening in society as filmmakers. What is written, as a story, is an influence of what is happening in society. It exists in our society. We are not promoting it. We are actors, portraying characters, entertaining people. And if that was the case, this film wouldn’t be a big hit.”
He further mentioned that his web series, ‘Aashram’, was also controversial, and it managed to draw huge viewership numbers. “I can’t get influenced by a film. Maybe you’ll get influenced to dance with a glass on your head,” the actor said, adding,“This is what’s happening in our society, and (Animal) is creating awareness that this kind of cruelty happens in the world we live in. I’ve seen it personally in so many places.”
Previously, actor Mansi Taxak, who was seen as the youngest of Abrar’s three wives, had said about the scene during a chat with Zoom Entertainment, “It was just that Bobby sir did not expect his brother’s death news to come on the wedding, which puts the character into a zone where he couldn’t think straight. And that’s what we’re talking about, right? Animal instincts are unpredictable instincts. So he goes into that zone, and to vent out his emotions, he comes to his wives. I don’t think it was intended to be any sort of assault. I didn’t feel it on the set, or in the script. That was not the case. It was just a relationship between two people that has panned out the way it did.”
Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor along with Rashmika Mandanna and Anil Kapoor in key roles. It has collected more than Rs 450 crore in India, and around Rs 750 crore worldwide.
