After success of ‘Animal,’ Vanga can go even darker, deeper and more complex: Ranbir Kapoor

Actor’s 2023 blockbuster film garnered criticism for depiction of violence and misogynistic themes

Amassing over INR9.15 billion globally, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's controversial film Animal became one of the most successful Bollywood offerings of 2023. Starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role, the film made its much-anticipated debut on Netflix on January 26. The streaming release has reignited discussions about the film's content and its impact on societal conversations.

With a sequel, Animal Park, in the pipeline, Ranbir sat down for a candid conversation about the film’s impact and development with actor and stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi for Netflix India. Ranbir shed light on the secrecy surrounding the first film's production, revealing that even some of the cast members were kept in the dark about certain aspects of the story.

Remarking on the team keeping the plot under wraps, Ranbir shared, "Bobby (Deol) sir had no idea about the story. Anil (Kapoor) sir knew the father-son story. But there were many aspects where Sandeep was very secretive about his script.” 

“Regarding Animal Park, he (Vanga) has one or two scenes ready, which he narrated to me, and they are very exciting,” Ranbird disclosed. He furthered on about the sequel, “Now, because of the success of part one, he has the confidence and courage to go even darker, deeper and more complex. He can do anything.” 

Despite facing criticism, Animal has become a talking point, Ranbir contended and emphasised the positive aspects during the conversation. "There is a very healthy conversation that has started about toxic masculinity also, which is a great thing because cinema, at least, it starts a conversation. If something is wrong, if you don’t show that it is wrong, and unless conversation starts in society, we will never realise it,” he added.

As per Ranbir, making a film like Animal is one way to precipitate change. “So the roles we are playing, those are characters. It is very important that as actors, we have empathy for them because we need to play it,” he commented. 

“But as an audience, you should decide what’s wrong. You can make a film about the wrong person and it should be made. Because if you don’t make a film on them, society will never improve,” the actor maintained, addressing the societal impact of the film and its potential sequel.

As Animal continues to generate buzz on the streaming platform, the anticipation for Animal Park grows, with audiences eager to see how the story unfolds in this darker and more complex sequel.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.