This is an open letter to Shahid Kapoor.
Let me begin by stating the obvious, Kabir Singh has been a stellar and one of his finest performances. But also one of the many in which he plays a misogynist. As a massive Shahid Kapoor fan, I feel let down.
He said in a recent interview to The Week, “To me, watching a film like Kabir Singh will help understand that when you allow yourself to be affected by those things, it can take you on the path of destruction. It can warn you from going in that route.”
I understand and respect his opinion, but only if this were true about the film. If this movie had a different ending with the character having to face the consequences of his flaws, I would not be writing this letter.
However, the character Kabir Singh faces no consequences for his actions in the movie, as the movie ends on a happy note with him getting the love of his life. The ‘path of destruction’ has no point in the movie, as all his flaws either still exist, or magically go away at the end of the movie.
There is no lesson to be drawn except that if you love someone enough, you will get them in the end, no matter how badly you behave with them. Also the ‘warning from going in that route’ did not exist either as Kabir Singh is constantly portrayed as a ‘hero’ for all his flaws including anger issues, attempt to rape, harassment, alcohol and drug abuse, violence and what not.
Shahid Kapoor also says, “If I start justifying characters, I can’t be an actor.”
I really wish that we lived in a world wherein all people could think for themselves and differentiate right from wrong. I wish we lived in a world where actors were idolized for being brilliant actors and not for the roles that they play. In that case, I would again, not be writing this letter.
But that is not how things are in our country. People who watch Kabir Singh want to be like Kabir Singh. The Kabir Singh who does a million immoral things and is yet loved, craved and glorified by the people around him. In an age and space where even infants are being raped, we cannot show an attempt to rape scene with such a casual attitude. This is not okay.
We demand better than Kabir Singh.
I have been working relentlessly towards ending misogyny in Bollywood through my campaign #WomenNotObjects. I believe that if we want better content, we need to speak up and demand it. Here is an action point for all our rage, and here is our demand for better content. Let us all do our bit by signing and sharing this petition.
Thank you! 🙂