7 months ago
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Vikas Divyakirti, who is widely recognized for guiding UPSC aspirants with his expert tips and tricks, was asked about the issue of toxic masculinity in society and the lack of empathy, particularly in light of the box office success of films like Ranbir Kapoor's
Animal
(2023).
During his conversation with 'Be A Man Yaar' podcast, Vikas Divyakirti slammed the film's problematic ‘lick my shoe’ scene.
Vikas noted that Ranbir's character in Animal takes pride in being an alpha male, but he explained that this concept is more suited to animals, like wolves than humans. He suggested that those who still chase after such ideals belong in the wild, emphasizing that there should be a clear distinction between humans and animals.
Vikas explained that toxic masculinity leads men to hate or distance themselves from women, often reducing them to mere objects. Referring to Animal's 'lick my shoe' line, he called it inhuman, questioning what remains in a relationship after such words are spoken. He added that toxic masculinity harms men who lose the love of their wives, mothers, and daughters, and remarked that those who prefer being feared over being loved are misguided.
For those unaware, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Animal', Ranbir Kapoor’s character, Rannvijay Singh, also known as Vijay, demands that Triptii Dimri’s Zoya Riaz lick his shoes to prove her love after her identity as a mole is uncovered. This scene, along with several others from the film, has sparked significant backlash on social media.
'Animal' also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor in key roles. The film, was released in five languages – Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and
Kannada
– on December 1.
English (US)