Rashmika Mandanna Stands by 'Animal,' Dismisses Controversy Over Film's Depiction of Toxic Masculinity

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As cinema continues to evolve, filmmakers are increasingly willing to explore darker themes on screen. A prime example of this trend is the film 'Animal'. Despite its release in December 2023, the movie continues to spark conversation, primarily due to the toxic masculinity portrayed by Ranbir Kapoor's character. While some praised Kapoor's performance, others criticized the depiction of such a flawed character. This criticism extended to director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and lead actress Rashmika Mandanna.

Mandanna recently addressed the backlash, emphasizing that films should be viewed as works of fiction and not as reflections of an actor's true personality.

Rashmika Mandanna's Perspective on the 'Animal' Controversy

The debate surrounding the influence of cinema on society has persisted for decades. 'Animal' faced criticism for potentially setting a negative example. During an interview with Mojo Story, Rashmika addressed these concerns, stating, "If you're someone who is going to get influenced by a film, then watch your kind of films."

She further emphasized individual choice, adding, "Nobody is forcing anybody to go and watch every film. If that were the case, every film would be a blockbuster."

When questioned about whether the criticism affected her, the actress explained that she remained unbothered. "There are gray characters in each one of us, we're never black and white, we have gray in us. It's just that Sandeep Reddy Vanga spoke about a messed-up character. That's about it. Seems to me that people have celebrated it, as it made the numbers."

Rashmika concluded by highlighting the distinction between on-screen portrayal and an actor's real-life persona. "People like it, people dislike it, it's their own personal thing. We have just made a cinema and people should just go and watch a film for the film and not really judge the actor playing these characters. It's acting for a reason, we are pretending on screen, our personality is different, the actors are different." Rashmika's recent film is 'Sikandar'.