Kabir Singh is not an irresponsible film: Kiara Advani clarifies

If there was one film that raised questions, created a controversy and triggered debates this year, it had to be Kabir Singh (2019). Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film about a young surgeon who spirals into drug and alcohol abuse after failing in love raised several questions, with many accusing it of 'male chauvinism' and 'toxic masculinity'.

However, Kiara Advani, the film's lead actress, believes Kabir Singh was not 'irresponsible' in its narrative.

The actress, speaking at a media interaction ahead of the upcoming Good Newwz (2019), said, "Everyone is being responsible, but how does Kabir Singh become an irresponsible film? I understand the debate, the differing viewpoints of scenes. It was great that it impacted people so much that it made it to primetime news. But it was a bit shocking at first."

Advani said it is perfectly acceptable for people to have different points of view on a film. "You realize that certain films will have topics that make people debate, and that people have left the theatre still thinking about the film," she said. "I think that is a huge take for any filmmaker."

About the portrayal of the characters, she said, "I did not feel in any way that it was an irresponsible film. I looked at it as a flawed character. In no way was Kabir Singh a 'hero'. He was a flawed character, whose biggest weakness was his love for this girl.

"As for Preeti, there are Kabirs and Preetis who exist in this world. You can't deny it. At the same time, this is a fictional story. People are discussing it as though we are telling everyone to be like Kabir or Preeti."

While Shahid Kapoor's titular character was questionable, there have been no doubts about the increasing popularity of Advani's portrayal of Preeti. The character has launched Advani into the big leagues, with 2020 looking to be a busy year for her. 

Speaking of her sudden popularity, the actress admitted, "Some characters just stick with you. I felt it recently when we had gone to Chandigarh to promote a song for Good Newwz. There were 8,000 people and Akshay sir and I were there. We walked out on the stage and everyone started chanting Preeti Preeti. To be addressed as a character was something else."

However, she clarified that she and Preeti are very different people. Asked about her feelings about the character, she said, "As an actor and a person, I will have different views. I am very different from Preeti. But when a story connects with you, and it is a beautiful story because it is so flawed, so imperfect. If I was in that situtation as Kiara, I would not give that person a second chance. but people give marriages chance, they go through separations and come back. Nobody is saying it is right or justified. Both are equally wrong." 

The actress is now set to play a soon-to-be mother caught in a major goof-up in Raj Mehta's Good Newwz. The film will see her star alongside Diljit Dosanjh, Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Good Newwz is set to be released in theatres on 27 December.