Animal has hit headlines for all the wrong reasons. From its story, and dialogues, to controversies by the director, it has proven the saying "Any publicity is publicity" and guess what it is working! The film has managed to cross Rs 500 crore at the box office. This means that the audience /viewers are "celebrated" by Hindi cinema.
However, this is not the first time! Toxic characters, men and women, have existed and even been glorified by Hindi cinema over the years. Below are eight of the most memorable ones-
1. Kabir in Kabir Singh
The most controversial & red flag character Hindi cinema has witnessed was Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh. There was huge debate about the toxic character being glorified till the end of the movie. In the name of romance, he abuses Preeti (played by Kiara Advani) and her family. He tries make "her woman" by kissing without asking her consent, and further after a fight breaks out he slaps her. The way this movie has glorified abuse as love is highly problematic. Things are worse when he treats a patient while he is drunk.
2. Maddy in Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein
"Agar mein chahata toh un 5 dino mein tumhare sath kuch bhi kar sakta tha", Maddy says to Reena in a scene as he disguises himself as her fiance Rajeev and spends 5 days with her. And he and his friends also attack Rajeev in the parking lot to fulfill his purpose - to win Reena at any cost! And why does Madhav sing, '
Usi ne yaaro mera dil toda, toda, tanha chhoda,' when he breaks her heart in the first place? There are several such instances in this movie where Maddy has become aggressive and violent literally!
3. Zoya in Raanjhanaa
Sonam Kapoor's character, Zoya in the 2013 film Raanjhana takes advantage of Kundan’s (played by Dhanush) situation and treats him unfairly, despite knowing that he had feelings for her. To be honest, it is safe to say that even though what Kundan did was wrong, at a lot of points, Zoya provoked him. She took his disadvantage of him to cancel her wedding and acted completely oblivious when he professed his love for her. She went on to ask him favours because she knew that he would never be able to say no to her.
4. Kundan in Raanjhanaa
He is yet another stalker! Dhanush's portrayal of Varanasi boy Kundan was given the hero treatment by director Aanand L Rai. To win her, he cuts his wrist and she accepts her love. But when she rejects her, he tries to break her wedding. Sure, he gets killed in the end, but that's treated as a SACRIFICE he makes for his unrequited love. If this is not enough, read to this dialogue -
"Subha se shaam peechha karo, ghar ke baahar, school ke baahar, bazaar mein, sadko pe, cycle pe, ricksha mein, tempo mein, ro do, khana khaana chhod do, wazan ghatalo, aur ladki ko itna thaka do ke woh thak ke haan bol de."
5. Natasha in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Natasha is obsessed with her fiance and wants to be in his bachelorette trip! And, it was clear that she had major trust issues e.g. she saw him with Leila (Katrina Kaif) and got extremely insecure. While Kabir and his friends are dropping her off at the airport, she hints at him saying that he won’t be going on any all-boys trip after his wedding. By being the girl who comes between the guy and his friends, you are only further pushing him away, which did happen in the end.
6. Manav Sangha in Dil Dhadkane Do
The character Manav, played by Rahul Bose, is controlling and manipulative. The point proven by Farhan Akhtar's character was on point as Manav said he "allowed" her wife to work and boasts him as authoritarian. This reflects a toxic and oppressive attitude towards women. For him, her wife was just a materialistic thing.
7. Sweety in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety
Sweety was controlling, nagging, pretentious and selfish! Remember that dialogue where Sonu says, “Tere khaane se leke kapdo se leke toothpaste tak saala woh chunti hai hamara." She always used a mask in front of everyone to get things done for herself and to prove how right she was.
8. Radhe Mohan in Tere Naam
People began obsessing over this movie, and so many men tried to copy Salman Khan’s atypical hairstyle. But his character Radhe was a toxic narcissist whose distorted idea of love was claiming his partner like eve-teasing her in college. He tried to threaten Nirjara, stalk her, and won her affections.’ This opened the doors of more toxic male leads in Bollywood movies who’ve time and again failed to understand that ‘A NO MEANS NO.’
9. Preeti in Kabir Singh
There was no real personality shown about the character Preeti and accepting a red flag like Kabir Singh is itself a red flag! Their relationship involved Preeti giving in to Kabir’s all-toxic love. The movie ends with Kabir and Preeti reuniting after a prolonged separation. And definitely, this is not what a healthy relationship should be.
These are all high-grossing movies so that is why the audience needs to be aware of what they are watching and glorifying!
