Sandeep Reddy Vanga On Being Told To See A Psychiatrist: 'If I Take Rifle, Barge Into Reviewer's Office...'

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s latest film, Animal, is one of the most talked about films of the year. Featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor in prominent roles, the film has become a massive hit at the box office. However, in true Sandeep Reddy Vanga fashion, the film has also created quite a controversy for its rather triggering scenes thereby, leading to the director being called out in several reviews.

During a recent interview with Komal Nahta, the trade analyst mentioned to Sandeep that someone took to X and said that the filmmaker should see a psychiatrist. Sandeep responded, “He (the person who tweeted) needs to go to the psychiatrist. Because he needs to understand that this is not what I am doing in real life, this is cinema, this is art, this is expression. I will make a few scenes uncomfortable, that’s the quality of the film, that’s the quality of art. It will upset you, it will provoke you, it will irritate you. If I do it in real life, if I take a rifle and barge into a reviewer’s office, that time you can tell me to consult a psychiatrist.”

Speaking about the violent scenes in the film, Sandeep said, “To be frank, I have diluted a few scenes, because I felt it would be too much for the Indian audience. But that happens subconsciously because I am also an audience of Indian cinema. I myself go to the theatres and watch movies, so I always match my IQ with the audience, I keep it directly proportional.”

Even though the film did well at the box office, it was accused of glorifying misogyny and toxic masculinity by many. Earlier, Sandeep opened up about the negative reviews and told Galatta Plus, “You’re making money, fame, name, everything by criticising my film, then go ahead. That’s what happened with most of the critics during Kabir Singh. Their shot to fame was criticising ‘Kabir Singh’…Nobody speaks about the craft, the editing, or sound design, because they are literally illiterate, and uneducated when it comes to films. They have no sense of how to criticise the film or review the film.”

Released on December 1, Animal revolves around a man and his toxic relationship with his father. The film shows Vijay (played by Ranbir) as an anti-hero who would go to any lengths to protect his father.