At a recent News18 event where Shah Rukh Khan received the Indian of the Year 2023 award, he addressed the topic of portraying villains in films. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized his sense of responsibility in society and expressed that if he were to take on the role of an antagonist, he would ensure that the character faces consequences. Although he didn’t cite specific examples from movies, his comments coincided with the discussion surrounding the film Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, which has faced criticism for its portrayal of violence and misogyny.

Shah Rukh on playing villains in films

Shah Rukh Khan expressed his perspective on playing negative roles in films during his acceptance speech at the News18 event where he was honoured with the Indian of the Year 2023 award. He shared, “I am a guy who is hopeful and tells happy stories. The heroes I play do good things, they give hope and happiness. If I play a bad guy, I make sure he suffers a lot, he dies a dog’s death because I believe goodness begets goodness. And I believe badness deserves a kick in the backside. I should play honest roles that give people the courage to dream. I should keep working hard quietly with the hope that life doesn’t topple my apple cart anytime soon.”

Notably, Shah Rukh Khan, often referred to as the romance king, has also portrayed negative roles in films like Darr, Baazigar, and Anjaam. However, he has refrained from such roles in recent times.

Animal and its controversy

Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, featured Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Triptii Dimri. Bobby Deol played the antagonist in a clash with Ranbir’s character. Despite facing criticism for its depiction of toxic relationships, misogyny, and violence, Animal emerged as one of the top Indian Hindi films of 2023, grossing over ₹900 crore worldwide.

In addition to Animal, Shah Rukh Khan had two other blockbusters in 2023. He began the year with YRF’s Pathaan, followed by the success of Atlee’s Jawan. His last release, Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki, faced a partial clash with Animal but continues its run at the box office despite mixed reviews.