The film Animal, featuring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga of Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh fame, hit theaters on Friday, eliciting a diverse range of reviews from critics. Many critics have labeled it as toxic, gruesome, and problematic.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for his portrayal of toxic masculinity in his previous works, persisted in this theme with Animal. The director, who garnered attention with the controversial scenes of Arjun (played by Vijay Deverakonda) slapping his girlfriend Preethi (Shalini Pandey) in the Telugu film Arjun Reddy, replicated a similar narrative in the Hindi adaptation, Kabir Singh. Despite audience disapproval, Vanga maintained the elements of toxic masculinity that had garnered attention in his earlier works. Now, with Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, he faces even more criticism for creating a film that is deemed more toxic, controversial, and problematic.

Amidst the backlash, an old interview featuring Aamir Khan has resurfaced on Reddit, where the actor eloquently discusses the use of violence by less talented directors to achieve success in their films. Aamir Khan expressed his views on depicting violence and sex in films, stating, These are among the emotions that can easily be triggered in an audience—violence and sex being prime examples. These particular sentiments are readily stirred in human beings. Directors lacking prowess in storytelling and effectively portraying emotions and situations often resort to relying heavily on violence and sex to ensure the success of their films. There exists a misguided belief among them that inundating the film with explicit content guarantees success. In my opinion, this perspective is flawed. While they may achieve short-term success through this approach, it significantly harms society, and I consider it an unethical practice.

He emphasized the moral responsibility of those in the film industry, stating, Individuals in the film industry bear a moral responsibility, particularly concerning the impact on the minds of the audience, especially the younger generation. It is imperative to be mindful of this responsibility when creating films, ensuring that content does not negatively influence the new generation. While I don’t advocate for the absence of violence in films, its portrayal should be subject-dependent, and there are alternative ways to depict it.

Despite the mixed reviews from critics, Animal has proven to be a box office success, crossing the Rs 100 crore mark in India with earnings of Rs 129.80 crore within just two days of its release. Alongside Ranbir Kapoor, the film features Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, and Tripti Dimri in significant roles.