SRK's Video on 'Right' Portrayal of Women in Cinema Goes Viral But Internet Has Doubts

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s recent release, ‘Animal’, has become the most talked-about film of 2023, drawing significant controversy. The movie, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, is under fire for its treatment of female characters. Critics are condemning its regressive narrative and accusing it of promoting toxic masculinity blatantly. In the midst of this debate, an old video has resurfaced on social media featuring Shah Rukh Khan discussing his steadfast commitment to portraying women ‘rightfully’ in his films.

In the viral clip, SRK outlines a fundamental principle he strictly adheres to in his career as an actor and producer – ensuring that women are not mistreated in his films. He asserts that his commitment to chivalry, both on and off-screen, has played a pivotal role in establishing him as a successful romantic hero.

Also Read: Aamir Khan’s Old Interview on Movies Relying on ‘Violence and Sex’ Goes Viral After ‘Animal’ Release

Explaining his stance, SRK states, “In the last 15-20 years, we may not have had a lot of women-dominated films. Those are smaller-budget films. To me, it’s a genuinely personal issue when a woman is not being portrayed rightly in a film. I would never do a film (like that) as an actor or producer. Yes, you can be naughty, persuade her, and try a few jokes, but overall a woman’s treatment in the film should be top-class.”

He further adds, “As a matter of fact the love stories have done well for me because I have treated women very well in my films. More than personally, in my storytelling, I have treated women as equals. I think that’s one reason why people think I am a good romantic hero because my girls have always been respected.”

While some applauded SRK for his courteous and respectful off-screen persona, others argued that his on-screen characters often contradict this image. Be it ‘Darr’, ‘Anjaam’, or even ‘Baazigar’, netizens have shared clips from all such SRK movies, highlighting instances where his characters exhibit toxic masculinity, challenging his claim of not participating in films with improper portrayals of women.

“No hate to him…but most of his movies that fans celebrate till day has premises based on most flawed gender politics,” commented a user on the micro-blogging site ‘X’.

Also Read: ‘Talk to Real Women’: Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Pad’ Dialogue in ‘Animal’ Has Internet Raising Eyebrows

“Shahrukh should look back his movies…and then comment on women portrayal,” suggested another.

Since being shared, the clip has garnered over 1.9 million views on the platform, fueling discussions on SRK’s on-screen choices and the broader issue of gender portrayal in Bollywood.