Anurag Kashyap DEFENDS Dev D after Abhay Deol calls titular character “chauvinist, misogynist, arrogant”: “Those who point fingers should introspect” : Bollywood News

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has responded to actor Abhay Deol's long-standing criticism of their 2009 film Dev D. Deol, who played the titular character Dev, has accused Kashyap of "glorifying" the protagonist's toxic behaviour. In a recent interview with Zoom, Anurag addressed the controversy.

Anurag Kashyap DEFENDS Dev D after Abhay Deol calls titular character “chauvinist, misogynist, arrogant”: “Those who point fingers should introspect”

The acclaimed director acknowledged Dev's flaws, stating, "For me, I have done what I wanted to do, and what I've seen. I like films to be very real. I don't want to give unnecessary redeeming qualities to a character because..." He elaborated on his approach to character development, suggesting audiences have become overly sensitive. "Those who point fingers should introspect," he said. He argues that portraying a character realistically, even if they are flawed or unpleasant, can prompt viewers to question their own perspectives.

Anurag cited his upcoming thriller Kennedy as an example. He explained, "In Kennedy, when people feel sympathy for the psychopath character, I'm saying, 'Question yourself'. You get one redeeming quality, and you say, 'Bechara' (poor guy)." He suggests that audience reactions to morally ambiguous characters reveal their own values.

Abhay previously shared his vision for Dev D on social media. He expressed a desire for stronger female characters and a darker ending that remained faithful to the source material. He felt Kashyap's brighter ending, featuring a romance between Dev and Chanda, compromised the film's message. Despite their differences, Kashyap recently reached out to Deol, congratulating him on his performance in the Netflix series Trial by Fire.

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Coming back to Anurag, besides Kennedy, he is also awaiting the release of Bad Cop, an OTT film. He will be seen locking horns with Gulshan Devaiah.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “Anurag Kashyap is a very aware director,” says Abhilash Thapliyal; shares his experience of working with him in Kennedy