Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga on being told to see a psychiatrist: ‘If I barge into critics’ office with a rifle…’

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s latest outing Animal featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor in prominent has turned out to be a monstrous hit at the box office. However, it has garnered criticism and controversy for some problematic scenes showcasing toxic masculinity. Many reviewers called out the film and filmmaker due to triggering scenes. A netizen took to X and said the filmmaker should see a psychiatrist. While conversing with Komal Nahta, the filmmaker said, “He (the person who tweeted) needs to go to the psychiatrist. Because he needs to understand that this is not what I am doing in real life, this is cinema, this is art, this is expression. I will make a few scenes uncomfortable, that’s the quality of the film, that’s the quality of art. It will upset you, it will provoke you, it will irritate you. If I do it in real life, if I take a rifle and barge into a reviewer’s office, that time you can tell me to consult a psychiatrist.”

usko psychiatrist k paas jaana chahiye... agar mein kisi din rifle leke review writer ke office mein chala jaunga tab bol sakte ho but this is only cinema- Sandeep Reddy Vanga pic.twitter.com/BKRMsdbwcJ

— RKᵃ (@seeuatthemovie) December 23, 2023

Talking about the violent sequences, he said, “To be frank, I have diluted a few scenes, because I felt it would be too much for the Indian audience. But that happens subconsciously because I am also an audience of Indian cinema. I myself go to the theatres and watch movies, so I always match my IQ with the audience, I keep it directly proportional.” _Animal_ has entered Rs 500 crore at the box office and is the fourth film to achieve this feat after Pathaan, Gadar 2 and Jawan. It also stars Suresh Oberoi, Prem Chopra and others in key roles.