Bollywood actress Mansi Taxak has found herself in a controversy following comments she made regarding a contentious wedding night scene in the recently released film “Animal.”
The scene has faced criticism for its portrayal of marital rape, as Mansi’s character is one of the three wives of actor Abrar Haque, played by Bobby Deol. Despite the outcry, Mansi denied any form of assault occurring in the scene during an interview with Zoom Entertainment.
Acknowledging Abrar’s ‘twisted’ nature, Mansi attributed his actions in the specific sequence to his ‘animal instincts.’ Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and featuring Ranbir Kapoor, “Animal” has drawn criticism for depicting toxic masculinity and misogyny, reminiscent of Vanga’s previous work on “Kabir Singh.” The film, also starring Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, and Triptii Dimri, has achieved considerable success, grossing around INR 550 crores worldwide.
When directly questioned about the controversial wedding scene, where violence ensues after Abrar receives news of his brother’s death, Mansi expressed shock at the unexpected turn of events. Despite appreciating the scene’s opening aesthetics, she emphasized that it was a deliberate narrative choice to highlight the antagonist’s instability, indicating that an ‘animal’ character was emerging.
Mansi clarified that the scene was not intended to depict assault but rather to portray the emotional turmoil experienced by Bobby’s character. She highlighted the unpredictability of ‘animal instincts’ and asserted that the sequence played a crucial role in establishing Bobby’s character and the film’s focus on violence.
While Mansi stated that she would not wish for such an incident at her own wedding, she acknowledged the negative reception of the scene and understood the audience’s concerns. She clarified that it was not the intent to show any form of assault but rather a depiction of a relationship between two characters unfolding in an unexpected way due to the circumstances.
Expressing admiration for Bobby’s acting in the scene, Mansi emphasized that the characters were in love, citing the chemistry displayed in the preceding wedding scene. Despite denying any portrayal of assault, Mansi argued that cinema has a duty to capture such relationships on the big screen, shedding light on real-life situations where people engage in harmful behavior towards their partners.
