Delhi, 2 July

Rashmika Mandanna has once again addressed the controversy surrounding ‘Animal’, defending Ranbir Kapoor’s flawed character and urging audiences to “watch a film as a film.” Speaking with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, Rashmika argued that viewers have the choice of what to watch and shouldn’t hold actors accountable for characters they play. “Personally, I would never smoke on screen, but that’s my perspective,” she said, adding, “Nobody is forcing anybody to watch a film. If that were the case, every film would be a blockbuster.”

Rashmika acknowledged ‘Animal’’s polarising reception, pointing out that the film’s massive box office success shows audiences connected with it, whether positively or negatively. She explained, “We all have grey in us. Sandeep Reddy Vanga spoke about a messed-up character, and that’s about it.”

The film has divided the industry too, while Javed Akhtar and Konkona Sen Sharma criticised it for promoting toxic masculinity, filmmakers like Karan Johar praised its storytelling and technical brilliance, with Johar stating he was “swept by the narrative” at the Forbes India Leadership Awards 2024. Rashmika maintained that actors should not be judged for playing complex roles, emphasising the art of acting itself.