What Animal's Actor Saloni Batra Said About The Director's Vision?

Amidst the ongoing scrutiny of Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film Animal for its perceived misogyny, actor Saloni Batra, who portrayed Ranbir Kapoor's sister in the movie, has voiced concerns about the character Rannvijay Singh. In an interview with DNA, Batra highlighted the problematic nature of Ranbir's portrayal, describing his behaviour and dialogue delivery as toxic. This critique surfaces amidst growing discussions and criticisms surrounding the film's themes and characterizations.

Saloni Batra, discussing her role in the movie, emphasised the actor's role as a facilitator, aiding in realising the creators' vision. In an interview, she pointed out that the character portrayed by Ranbir Kapoor in Animal, named Rannvijay Singh, exhibits toxic behaviour and speech patterns. She said, "This character, the way he talks and behaves, is toxic. But the story is about him and Sandeep sir (Sandeep Reddy Vanga) has chosen to tell his story in his way."

Saloni Batra On Ranbir Kapoor's Character In Animal

Batra highlighted that while the character's actions may be central to the story, the audience must discern right from wrong, " As an audience, it is our responsibility to watch and decide what is right and wrong. If that character is firing a gun in the college, it doesn’t mean it’s right."

The actor underscored that the film's narrative is an artist's creative vision meant for entertainment. She urged viewers not to internalise or replicate the character's behaviour outside the realm of the movie. She said, "You came to the theatre and were entertained. And that is the job of cinema. You don’t have to learn from it. You don’t have to take it back home and tell people that it’s ok to say such things to women... As a woman, I would be offended if someone in real life did that to me. But, such people exist. And this story is about one such story. The director is not being a teacher. He is being an entertainer."

In just a short span since its December 1 release, Animal has reportedly approximately ₹313 crore nett in India. The movie, which stars Ranbir Kapoor alongside Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, and Bobby Deol, has garnered significant box-office success.