'Let love be free from...': Animal makers break silence on Javed Akhtar criticising the shoe licking scene

Veteran screenwriter-lyricist Javed Akhtar has strongly reacted to Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal. In a recent event, Akhtar stated that the popularity of such films is ‘dangerous’. Now, Animal makers have slammed the senior screenwriter by saying that his art form is flawed if he cannot understand the betrayal of a lover while referring to the shoe licking scene in the movie.

For those unfamiliar, Akhtar had taken an apparent dig at Animal, in which Ranbir Kapoor’s character was seen asking Triptii Dimri’s character to lick his shoe. He said, "If there’s a film in which a man asks a woman to lick his shoe or if a man says it’s okay to slap a woman… and the film is a super hit, that’s dangerous."

Also read: Animal Success Bash: OG bhabhi Alia Bhatt joins Ranbir Kapoor; Triptii Dimri, Rashmika Mandanna & Bobby Deol slay 

In response, the official handle of Animal tweeted, “Writer of your calibre cannot understand the betrayal of a lover (Between Zoya & Ranvijay) then all your art form is big FALSE & If a woman (betrayed and fooled by a man in the name of love) would have said "lick my shoe" then you guys would have celebrated it by calling it feminism. Let love be free from the politics of gender. Let's just call them lovers. LOVER cheated and lied. LOVER said lick my shoe. Period.”

Also Read: Apart from Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal Park, Sandeep Reddy Vanga to work on a spin-off for Bobby Deol’s Abrar Haque?

As soon as the tweet surfaced, netizens were quick to react. A user indirectly slammed Animal makers saying, “Agar har criticism ka answer dena pad rha hai you know you made a problematic movie !!” Another user said, “If Javed was a true artist he wouldn't have said that Animal's success is dangerous to society.” “All your art form is a big False.. Sandeep is saying this to Javed Akhtar saab..Pride Air carries the weight of arrogance in making three movies..Sandeep's excessive pride has grown.Time favors everyone..and people stand by you during good times..Bad times will come, and those who were with you will be the ones trolling you..,” added another user.

Meanwhile, Animal starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna and Triptii Dimri, was released on December 1. Despite polarised reviews, the film shattered several box office records and amassed Rs 898.65 crore worldwide.