Nikita Dutta says Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani benefited from Kabir Singh controversy: “Doesn’t matter if they support it or against it”
etimes.in | Apr 11, 2025, 02.50 PM IST
Actress Nikita Dutta recently reflected on the impact of the Kabir Singh movie controversy on the careers of lead actors Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani. In a recent conversation, she weighed in on whether the criticism and debate surrounding the film helped elevate their profiles.
Dutta, who stepped into the entertainment industry after participating in Femina Miss India 2012, began her acting journey with Lekar Hum Deewana Dil (2014).
When asked if the backlash surrounding Kabir Singh worked in Shahid and Kiara’s favour, she responded, “It depends on what you’re doing with it. I mean, I feel that as actors, we’ve done our part.” According to her, actors play their characters as it is their job, but what comes their way can either work in their favour or against them. “If I have to specifically talk about Shahid (Kapoor) and Kiara (Advani), I think both of them have really, really benefited in their own ways. And it’s not about whether they support it or are against it—it has nothing to do with that. So I guess the idea is to just take it as the characters you’ve played, and not get into the philosophical or ethical side of it,” she added in the conversation with Bollywood Bubble.
Released in 2019, Kabir Singh quickly became a commercial hit. However, the movie, which was a remake of the Telugu version Arjun Reddy starring Vijay Deverakonda, received mixed opinions from the public and critics. Some viewers called it a portrayal of toxic masculinity and patriarchy. The violence and aggressive nature of the alcoholic protagonist in the film became a topic of discussion. The misogynistic portrayal offended some critics.
Many argued that its depiction of possessiveness and aggression reinforced troubling gender dynamics, while others saw it as a character study rather than a moral lesson. The film went on to become a career-defining moment for Shahid and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who later went on to deliver another box office smash hit with the Ranbir Kapoor starrer 'Animal'. The film's Rs 900 crore haul at the box office, set the ball rolling for its highly anticipated sequel titled 'Animal Park'.
Dutta, who stepped into the entertainment industry after participating in Femina Miss India 2012, began her acting journey with Lekar Hum Deewana Dil (2014).
When asked if the backlash surrounding Kabir Singh worked in Shahid and Kiara’s favour, she responded, “It depends on what you’re doing with it. I mean, I feel that as actors, we’ve done our part.” According to her, actors play their characters as it is their job, but what comes their way can either work in their favour or against them. “If I have to specifically talk about Shahid (Kapoor) and Kiara (Advani), I think both of them have really, really benefited in their own ways. And it’s not about whether they support it or are against it—it has nothing to do with that. So I guess the idea is to just take it as the characters you’ve played, and not get into the philosophical or ethical side of it,” she added in the conversation with Bollywood Bubble.
Kabir Singh is very hanikarak, says Sahid Kapoor
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Released in 2019, Kabir Singh quickly became a commercial hit. However, the movie, which was a remake of the Telugu version Arjun Reddy starring Vijay Deverakonda, received mixed opinions from the public and critics. Some viewers called it a portrayal of toxic masculinity and patriarchy. The violence and aggressive nature of the alcoholic protagonist in the film became a topic of discussion. The misogynistic portrayal offended some critics.
Many argued that its depiction of possessiveness and aggression reinforced troubling gender dynamics, while others saw it as a character study rather than a moral lesson. The film went on to become a career-defining moment for Shahid and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who later went on to deliver another box office smash hit with the Ranbir Kapoor starrer 'Animal'. The film's Rs 900 crore haul at the box office, set the ball rolling for its highly anticipated sequel titled 'Animal Park'.