Actor Adil Hussain, known for his supporting role in the controversial film ‘Kabir Singh’, recently defended his decision to criticize the movie while clarifying that his criticism was not directed at the film’s director, Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Hussain emphasized his commitment to calling out misogyny and violence in cinema, acknowledging that he holds himself responsible for his involvement in ‘Kabir Singh’, as he signed on without reading the entire script.
In an interview with India Today NE, Hussain responded to Vanga’s claim that his small role in ‘Kabir Singh’ brought him more fame than his entire career. Hussain questioned the comparison, stating, “How do I respond to that? Is Ang Lee less famous than him? Is Mira Nair less famous? Ang Lee was an Oscar-winner before Life of Pi.”
Adil, who has worked with both renowned filmmakers, expressed his belief that Indian society is highly influenced by what it sees on screen, and thus, filmmakers have a heightened responsibility to be sensitive in their portrayals.
“Cinema is a powerful medium, it can influence you deeply,” Hussain said. “In a country where they build statues of heroes and worship them, what sort of films do you want to make? You have to take into account the innocence and the intellectual level of the mass audience. If you make a movie that glorifies violence and misogyny, I will always retain my right to criticise you.”
Hussain acknowledged that Vanga might be upset by his remarks but reiterated that he never blamed the director. “But I have never blamed him. I have said that it’s my fault that I didn’t read the script. I might give you 100 explanations about why I didn’t read the script. But they should not be counted. The fault lies with me. I should have read the script. I read my scene only, and I did the film. It’s my fault, and when I watched the film, I realised that I had made a big blunder,” he admitted.
Hussain also highlighted the ease with which films can trigger base instincts like fear, anger, and hatred. He defended his right to criticize films that promote such themes while also respecting Vanga’s right to disagree. In a previous interview with Zoom, when asked if he would have taken a role in Vanga’s next film, ‘Animal’, Hussain firmly replied, “Never,” adding, “Even if they paid me Rs 100-200 crore, I would never do it.”
For the unversed, the feud between actor Adil Hussain and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga stems from the controversy surrounding the 2019 film Kabir Singh, in which Hussain played a minor supporting role. Kabir Singh, directed by Vanga, became a massive commercial success but was heavily criticized for its portrayal of toxic masculinity, misogyny, and violence.
Adil Hussain publicly criticized the film’s glorification of these themes, despite being a part of the project. He admitted that he regretted his involvement, explaining that he hadn’t read the entire script before signing on and that he would not have accepted the role had he fully understood the film’s content.
Hussain emphasized his belief that filmmakers have a responsibility to be sensitive, especially in a society where films can have a significant influence on public perceptions and behaviors. In response, Sandeep Reddy Vanga reportedly claimed that the small role in Kabir Singh brought Hussain more fame than his entire career.
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