“Men In Our Industry…”: Emraan Hashmi’s Shocking Statement On Why Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Animal’ Worked
Emraan Hashmi said that even though there’s an uproar over the portrayal of hyper masculinity in films, people are still buying tickets for such movies.
The debate surrounding “hypermasculine” cinema and the portrayal of toxic protagonists has taken centre stage in Bollywood's recent discourse, particularly following the massive success of polarized blockbusters like ‘Kabir Singh’, ‘Animal’ and more. Adding his voice to this ongoing conversation, actor Emraan Hashmi recently shared his perspective on why such films resonate with audiences and why he believes male actors in the industry are plagued by deep-seated insecurities.
In a candid conversation with News18 Showsha, Emraan Hashmi shared his unfiltered thoughts on the current state of Hindi cinema and the success of “toxic” characters.
Addressing the massive success of Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Animal’, Emraan Hashmi noted that despite the “uproar” from what he calls the “woke brigade,” hypermasculine portrayals are what currently drive ticket sales.
The Bollywood actor observed that while social media and "woke culture" criticise these roles as toxic, a vast number of men in the country identify with them. He pointed out that this isn't a new phenomenon. The actor drew parallels to the 1970s and 80s, where the hypermasculine personas of Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna in classics like ‘Deewar’ and ‘Trishul’ dominated the box office.
According to Emraan Hashmi, the audience's current demand for villains, tropes, and clichés cantered around a “manly” protagonist is “very evident”.
The Bollywood actor didn't hold back when discussing his peers, stating bluntly that “men in our industry are very insecure”. He challenged actors to move past these insecurities to tell more diverse stories.
He questioned how many actors would have agreed to do a film like his recent release ‘Haq’, noting that most stars feel every narrative must showcase a “man’s victory”. Reflecting on his career choices, he cited ‘The Dirty Picture’ (2011) as an example of a project he took because he liked the subject, regardless of traditional hero tropes.
‘The Dirty Picture’ (2011) is a musical drama inspired by the life of Silk Smitha. The Milan Luthria directorial remains a milestone for Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan. Co-starring Naseeruddin Shah and Tusshar Kapoor, the film was both a critical and commercial triumph.
‘Haq’, directed by Suparn S Varma, was Hashmi’s latest release. It is a legal drama based on the landmark 1985 Supreme Court judgment of Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum. The film explores the 1978 petition by Shah Bano seeking maintenance from her affluent ex-husband.
It highlighted the 1985 ruling that entitled her to maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The film features an ensemble including Yami Gautam, Vartika Singh, Danish Husain, Sheeba Chadha, and Aseem Hattangady.
Fans won't have to wait long for Emraan Hashmi’s next move. He is set to star in Neeraj Pandey’s crime drama ‘Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web’, which begins streaming on Netflix on January 14.
The series explores the high-stakes world of international trade routes and airports, focusing on illegal smuggling and the law enforcement officers trying to dismantle those networks. The show also features Anurag Sinha, Nannyish Sandhu, and Amruta Khanvilkar.
