In an interview with DNA, actor Saloni Batra, who portrays Ranbir Kapoor’s sister in ‘Animal,’ expressed her discomfort with Ranbir’s character. She stated that she would be offended if someone in real life behaved like Ranbir’s character Rannvijay Singh, acknowledging that the way he ‘talks and behaves is toxic.’ The film ‘Animal,’ directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has faced criticism for being labeled ‘misogynistic,’ sparking a heated debate among viewers.”
Saloni Batra Addresses Toxicity in ‘Animal’ Character: Entertainment vs. Real Life
Saloni Batra, describing her role, stated, “I am a facilitator. It’s my job as an actor to facilitate what an artist wants to bring to the table. They have a vision for this character in this world. The character, the way he talks and behaves, is toxic. But the story is about him, and Sandeep sir (Sandeep Reddy Vanga) has chosen to tell his story in his way. As an audience, it is our responsibility to watch and decide what is right and wrong. If that character is firing a gun in the college, it doesn’t mean it’s right.”
She emphasized, “This is the vision of an artist for entertainment. In this world, the character (Ranbir Kapoor’s Rannvijay Singh aka Vijay) stands true, but as I said, it is your responsibility as an audience not to take it home. You came to the theatre and were entertained. That is the job of cinema. You don’t have to learn from it. You don’t have to take it back home and tell people that it’s okay to say such things to women… As a woman, I would be offended if someone in real life did that to me. But such people exist. And this story is about one such story. The director is not being a teacher. He is being an entertainer.”
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Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal character
“The Hindustan Times’ review of the movie ‘Animal’ criticizes filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s portrayal of Ranbir as an embodiment of misogyny, drawing parallels with his previous works like ‘Arjun Reddy’ and ‘Kabir Singh.’ Whether instructing his younger sister on drink choices or mocking his Harvard graduate elder sister for saying ‘Chup raho, bas karo (Keep quiet)’ in her marriage, Ranbir’s character, Ranvijay, elicits a mix of love, hatred, and misunderstanding. As the entitled, rich, and spoiled brat, he sees himself as the man in charge after his father, ready to take the law into his own hands to right perceived wrongs for the women in his household.
Despite the controversy, ‘Animal’ has already amassed a staggering ₹313 crore nett in India since its December 1 release. The film, featuring Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol, continues to attract attention and discussion.”