Manoj Bajpayee, Arshad Warsi, Aparshakti defend Animal: If films could change society we would be...

Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal was one of the highest-grossing films of 2023. The film garnered positive reviews in terms of its performances but was criticised for glorifying toxic masculinity and violence. Now, amid the heavy criticism by the audience, celebs such as Manoj Bajpayee, Arshad Warsi and Aparshakti Khurana are defending the film.

Animal was like the male version of Kill Bill: Arshad Warsi

In a new roundtable hosted by Bollywood Hungama, Aparshakti said that to him, Animal felt like a comedy with gags and no screenplay. Arshad, on the other hand, said that the film comes in a bracket of films which actors "like to see but not do". He added that serious actors may hate the film, but he loved the film as he looks at the films as "complete entertainment".

“All the serious actors may hate the film, but I love the film. It was like the male version of Kill Bill. My whole point of view is different. I look at films as complete entertainment and when you go to theatre this is what you want to watch. I don’t want to think too hard, don’t teach me, don’t give me lessons, I learned it in school,” said Arshad.

Aparshakti praised the screenplay of the film and said that it made him "forget the moral compass after a couple of scenes". He added, "The composition in which scenes were written was so different than what we have seen before, and it almost seemed like a comedy film that has gags and doesn’t have a screenplay." He concluded by saying that Animal had "really good structured scenes" which was engaging.

For Manoj Bajpayee film should be engaging

The actor voiced a similar expression and said that films were not there to change society else would have been living in heaven. He added that one has to "completely forget" about morality and principles to enjoy the film.

“It has to be engaging. If it engages you, you completely forget about the morality, all your principles, and everything and you just watch a story and how the director wants you to watch it. That’s it. I have maintained this that if films could change society then by now we would have been living in heaven," said Manoj Bajpayee.

More about Animal

Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna starrer showcases a story about a father-son relationship, played by Anil Kapoor and Ranbir. The latter's character is protective and obsessive about his father's love and can go to any extent for the safety of his father. The 3 hour-21 minute-long film stands at a worldwide gross collection of ₹887.69 crore.