Filmmaker Karan Johar had invited a lot of criticism last year when he called Ranbir Kapoor starrer movie ‘Animal’ as the best movie of 2023. For those unaware, this directorial venture by Sandeep Vanga Reddy created a lot of debate and criticism across the country for its misogynistic narrative and violence-filled scenes. To everyone’s surprise, Johar has once again come out and defended his love for the film.
Speaking at the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2024, the filmmaker revisited the debate on ‘Animal‘, sparking discussions once more. This comes months after surprising fans with his admission that the film had deeply intrigued and captivated him unlike any other. He said that he loved the treatment given to Ranbir’s character which as “deeply dysfunctional, inherently violent, who had many emotional issues”.
He added that he didn’t go on the depth of the film’s moral communication, but instead was swept by the film’s narrative via sound design, screenplay, dialogue, and character development. “That as a filmmaker, I loved it,” Johar said.
He mentioned that people have individually reached out to him to share their viewpoints, whether in agreement or disagreement. He emphasized the importance of being truthful about his emotional response to a film, acknowledging that criticism or praise should be accepted equally.
Earning more than Rs 900 crore, “Animal” emerged as a massive success at the box office and garnered praise for its cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Triptii Dimri. The film sparked intense discussions on social media, with veterans such as Javed Akhtar and Swanand Kirkire also criticizing it.
