Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s latest blockbuster, Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, has been making waves at the box office. However, the film has not been without its share of criticisms, particularly regarding the portrayal of Bobby Deol’s character, Abrar, as a Muslim despite belonging to a Sikh family.
In a recent interview, the director addressed the lingering question about the decision to make the antagonist, Abrar, a Muslim. Vanga clarified that the intent was not to cast a negative light on the Muslim community but rather to lay the groundwork for potential sequels in the narrative.
Abrar, portrayed by Bobby Deol, is depicted as the cousin of the protagonist, Rannvijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor). Sandeep explained that he wanted to explore the theme of religious conversion in the character’s backstory, emphasizing that the intention was not to show any particular religion in a negative light. He stated,
I’ve seen people changing their religion because so much has happened to them. At a low point, they feel like it’s a new birth, it’s a change of identity completely… We see a lot of people converting to Islam and Christianity; we never see anybody converting to Hinduism.
He further elaborated on the narrative choice, mentioning the personal trauma in Bobby Deol’s character’s backstory, leading to his conversion. Sandeep stated, “I thought I’ll use this because you can get multiple wives in Islam. I can have multiple cousins with different faces; the drama will be bigger. That’s the only reason. There was no intention to show a Muslim in a bad light.”
In Animal, Abrar undergoes a profound emotional shift after the loss of his father, propelling him into a vendetta against Ranvijay following his brother’s tragic demise. As the story unfolds, unexpected familial connections come to light, adding layers of complexity to the characters.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal boasts a stellar cast including Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Tripti Dimri. The film explores themes of revenge, familial ties, and the consequences of personal choices in a gripping action drama.
