The actor discusses the clash between “woke culture” and the box office dominance of hypermasculinity.
In a recent conversation with News18 Showsha, actor Emraan Hashmi offered a blunt assessment of the current cinematic landscape. Addressing the polarising reception of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, Hashmi noted that while a “woke brigade” on social media criticizes toxic masculinity, the general audience is clearly voting with their wallets. “The hypermasculine man is what’s doing well in theatres,” he said, comparing the trend to the 80s era of Amitabh Bachchan.
Hashmi also took a swipe at the ego-driven nature of the industry. He pointed out that most male stars are too “insecure” to star in women-led projects like The Dirty Picture or his recent film Haq. He urged the industry to move past the need for every narrative to showcase a “man’s victory” and called for more diverse storytelling.
