Shah Rukh Khan is a BADASS while being kind, gracious, empathetic and respectful of women. Fondly known as ‘The King of Bollywood,’ his commitment to kindness and gentlemanly demeanour remains unwavering, a trait that seems to be imprinted in his DNA. Generosity, benevolence, and a heart brimming with gratitude define King Khan on every occasion. So, when the movie ‘Animal’ emerged, celebrating the archetype of an ‘alpha male’ where aggression, misogyny, and everything else take centre stage, discussions naturally turned to SRK. Because let’s face it, he’s been dishing out films where the only thing missing is a dash of ‘disrespect.’
And this is just what made the celebrated writer and storyteller, Nikhil Taneja, talk about introducing a ‘trend’ that demands celebration – positioning SRK and his films as the epitome of ‘soft masculinity,’ that overshadows any ‘Animal’ in the room. Thereby, citing examples from ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’ in his viral thread, Taneja masterfully asserted, “In Pathaan, the introduction to Deepika’s character is through an action scene where she saves SRK’s character. And at no point does ‘Pathaan’ try to ‘take charge’ (or even try to cut himself loose).. he knows Rubina is very well in charge, and she’s kicking all ass!”
Also Read: ‘Talk to Real Women’: Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Pad’ Dialogue in ‘Animal’ Has Internet Raising Eyebrows
Even in the face of betrayal, SRK’s ‘Pathaan’ remains untainted by any mistreatment of women. Now, that’s the ‘Pathaan’ we signed up for!
Spoke to @shrutisonal26 for a @timesofindia piece on ‘The rise of alpha males’ thanks to films like Animal, Gadar &
.While I don’t disagree that hypermasculinity has made big bucks, I have a contrarian view on its rise. The reason? @iamsrk#Thread — Nikhil Taneja (@tanejamainhoon) December 11, 2023
“And in Jawan, of course, SRK’s character ‘Azad’s army is an all-women army. He operates out of a women’s prison, and in a fab dialogue written by @Sumitaroraa, he says, ‘Jail mein aadmi tere hain par yeh jail meri auraton ka hai’. They are his team, his family, his badass women,” Taneja remarked, further elaborating on how it’s the way he ‘loves’ doing it. Whether it’s succumbing to Deepika’s character and accepting the defeat in kushti or stumbling in front of Nayanthara’s powerful role, SRK consistently lets the women take the reins when the script demands it!
“And no one dares call SRK’s characters in the films anything other than a real ‘alpha’ male because in both, he’s a soldier fighting for his country, against those who threaten India’s economic, financial or secular fabric. In Jawan, he has an even more ‘alpha’ dad, but without any misogyny,” he aptly put it, not getting swayed but acknowledging some problematic SRK movies, but then “there are two SRKs, and they are BADASS while being kind, gracious, empathetic and respectful of women.”
Also Read: SRK’s Video on ‘Right’ Portrayal of Women in Cinema Goes Viral But Internet Has Doubts
All in all, Taneja crafts a compelling narrative in the era of hypermasculine/misogynistic success, emphasising the need for conversations about SRK’s alternative, wholesome masculinity. It’s a love story, not just for fans but for everyone who craves a refreshing take on manhood.
So if we raise alarm bells about a hypermasculine/misogynistic success, we must also have as many conversations about the alternative, wholesome masculinity that SRK presents because that’s as loved, and probably even more so, than anything or anybody else. And thank god for it!— Nikhil Taneja (@tanejamainhoon) December 11, 2023
After all, it’s ‘Baadshah’ who continues to reign supreme, not just as the King of Bollywood but as the ruler who captured every female heart. Now, that says it all about the man he truly is!
