While facing backlash from Bollywood figures over his upcoming film Animal, Sandeep Reddy Vanga has inadvertently drawn the ire of Shah Rukh Khan’s fanbase. During a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, the filmmaker addressed critiques of Animal, particularly regarding its alleged promotion of toxic masculinity and the portrayal of its lead character.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz8vfSKMSNE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In response, Sandeep Reddy Vanga remarked,
”People misunderstand what glorification entails. They anticipate the hero delivering a moral lecture in the climax, where he confesses to all his wrongdoings. They think he should meet a miserable end.”
This statement resonated strongly with Shah Rukh Khan’s admirers, who recalled a similar sentiment expressed by the actor during his acceptance speech for the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2023 award. Shah Rukh Khan had stated,
”The characters I portray engage in virtuous deeds. They inspire hope and joy.Even if I portray a villain, I ensure their demise is ignoble.”
”The heroes I play do good things. They give hope and happiness. If I play a bad guy I make sure he suffers a lot, he dies a dog’s death.”
context: pic.twitter.com/9svNZFzv7p
— αdil. (@IM4DIL) February 5, 2024
Following the circulation of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s interview clip, Shah Rukh Khan‘s fans criticized him for seemingly taking a veiled swipe at the renowned actor.
One fan remarked, ‘
‘He seems to be indirectly targeting Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic monologue and Indian of the Year award acceptance speech!”
Another expressed, ”Sandeep Reddy Vanga appears eager to provoke discord within Shah Rukh Khan’s fan community.”
https://twitter.com/vemugantisameer/status/1754777773606858897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1754777773606858897%7Ctwgr%5Ee30c790af7fc932a3cae0f48ecdf31dbe6433277%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fin.mashable.com%2Fentertainment%2F69079%2Fsandeep-reddy-vanga-talking-about-hero-dying-a-dogs-death-goes-viral-shah-rukh-khan-fans-are-not-hap
This is an 'indirect' to SRK only if we first agree that SRK was giving an 'indirect' to Vanga in the first place.
And SRK, a mortal like any of us, can be wrong too.
The idea that depiction of flawed/immoral characters without making them die is always glorification, is WRONG!
— Forest (@Picture_Shuru) February 5, 2024
v*nga when someone doesn't like his movies or his representation of heros: pic.twitter.com/PZiWWsWf1z
— srkdp (@srkdeepikaholic) February 6, 2024
Shah Rukh Khan x Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Mass Mode #Animal #Jawan #SRK🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z2qCUGgkoQ
— SRK's Vasim (@iamvasimt) February 3, 2024
I'm not defending Vanga , or want a film of him with Shah Rukh sir desperately
But it is not dig at Shah Rukh Khan …it was a general answer to the glorification issue asked by host!!
Indian of the year speech se Lena Dena ni tha
Poora dekhoge toh aap feel kar loge ye!! pic.twitter.com/d1a5m5R54c— 𝐑𝐢𝐳𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧ᴾᵃᵗʰᵃᵃⁿ ² (@fromepiglottis) February 5, 2024
Interestingly, some individuals came to Sandeep Reddy’s defense, pointing out that in the same interview, he had expressed a desire to collaborate with Shah Rukh Khan. They argued that Sandeep’s remarks were not aimed at disparaging Shah Rukh Khan but rather at addressing criticisms of his film Animal, which features Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role.
Furthermore, it was noted that Sandeep Reddy Vanga had made similar comments in previous interviews where he also professed admiration for Shah Rukh Khan. Thus, many viewed his statement as a general response unrelated to Shah Rukh Khan specifically.
