After Laal Singh Chaddha, Raksha Bandhan, Netizens Trend Boycott Alia Bhatt Over Darlings

After Laal Singh Chaddha, Raksha Bandhan, actor Alia Bhatt has fallen under the radar of the boycott brigade. Netizins are calling for a boycott for her upcoming film Darlings. Touted as a dark comedy, the film is set against the backdrop of the sensitive subject of domestic violence. Directed by Jasmeet K Reen, the film also stars Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, and Roshan Mathew.

Varma plays Bhatt’s husband Hamza in the film who is kidnapped and tortured by Bhatt. It is implied that she is seeking revenge on Hamza for the abuse he inflicted on Badrunissa (Bhatt’s character), as flashes of her being hit, and thrown on the floor play on the screen. However, some netizens claim the film is making an alleged mockery out of an important social issue under the garb of comedy, and also perpetuating domestic violence against men.

Why is boycott Alia Bhatt trending on Twitter?

The trailer sees Badrunissa beating her husband with a pan, throwing water on his face, thrashing him left right and centre, and making constant plans to not kill him but treat him ‘exactly how he treated her.’ In a short clip, we see Hamza tied to a chair as Badrunissa uses injections to make him go unconscious – to avenge all the abuse and torture she suffered at his hands in their marriage.

Criticising the act, one user wrote, "Alia Bhatt is endorsing assault on domestic violence on husbands while the nation stays mum."

Some claimed that Bollywood treats the issue as a joke.

A few Twitter users also compared Bhatt’s character in the film to Hollywood actress Amber Heard who was recently under the limelight due to a domestic violence lawsuit against her ex-husband Johnny Depp.

Meanwhile, apart from Darlings, Bhatt is also looking forward to the release of Brahmastra. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, it will also star Ranbir Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and Mouni Roy in the lead and will be hitting the screens on September 9. Bhatt also has Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani with Ranveer Singh in the pipeline. She is also making her Hollywood debut alongside Gal Gadot with Heart Of Stone.

Suggested Reading: Laal Singh Chaddha: Is It Unfair To Call For Boycott Of Films Even Before Their Release?