Farhan Akhtar Says He Wouldn’t Have Produced Animal Due to Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Problematic’ Character

Actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar recently shared his thoughts on one of 2023’s most controversial films, Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Farhan admitted that the film didn’t resonate with him and described Ranbir’s character as “problematic.”

In an interview with Faye D’Souza, Farhan said, “The film didn’t do much for me. Is it something that I would recommend somebody to watch, I guess not.” When asked if he had the opportunity to produce Animal, he answered, “No, I won’t. it doesn’t resonate with me. For me, I feel that the character is problematic.”

Farhan Akhtar had earlier shared his thoughts on the rise of “alpha male” characters in modern cinema during an interview with YouTuber Raj Shamani. When asked about his take on Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, and how it compares to the portrayal of male characters in his own films like ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ and ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, Farhan had spoken about the importance of creative freedom in filmmaking.

Farhan had said, “I don’t believe that some things should not be shown. We are in a field where, if someone tells me, ‘You can’t make a film like this’, then I’ll be like, ‘Who are you to tell me what I should and should not make?’ I am permitted by the laws of this country, and I have the freedom of artistic expression to say whatever I want. What the audience wants to listen to, that they’ll decide. I’d never ever tell any filmmaker or writer or producer or anyone, ‘Yaar don’t make this’, or, ‘This kind of movie can’t be made’. To each their own, because I don’t feel that’s right and that’s a dangerous thing to do.”

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal has been the talk of the town since its release in December 2023. The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Triptii Dimri, stirred up quite a storm. While the movie has faced its share of controversy — some critics have slammed it for its violent and seemingly misogynistic themes — it’s also been a massive hit at the box office. Despite the backlash, the film made around Rs 800 crore in global box office collections.