When Love Turns Violent: From Animal to Tere Ishq Mein, 5 Films That Glorify Toxic Masculinity

Bollywood has, over the last few years, been witnessing a proliferation of those hyper-masculine, morally ambiguous protagonists whose actions, if propelling box-office successes, have also incited furious debate among the public at large. Critics argue that toxic masculinity is not only glamourised in all flawed characters; rather, it presents possessiveness, rage, and violence as aspirational traits.

Films That Glorify Toxic Masculinity

Here are five major films that have courted controversy for allegedly glorifying toxic men:

1. Animal (2023)

Sandeep Reddy Vanga's ‘Animal’ became one of 2023's biggest blockbusters, but the film also became a lightning rod for criticism. The film follows Ranvijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor), whose intense devotion to his emotionally distant father (Anil Kapoor) manifests as extreme violence, unchecked entitlement, and possessive control over his wife, Geetanjali (Rashmika Mandanna).

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2. Kabir Singh (2019)

‘Kabir Singh’, another film by director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and a remake of the Telugu movie ‘Arjun Reddy’, made the trope of the self-destructive, genius surgeon propelled by rage all its own. The aggressive, entitled alcoholic Kabir (Shahid Kapoor) sees his world implode after his girlfriend, Preeti (Kiara Advani), weds another man. His emotional outbursts, physical abuse, and self-destruction are romanticised as a deep expression of sorrow.

3. Raanjhanaa (2013)

Helmed by Aanand L Rai, ‘Raanjhanaa’ is often cited as a classic example of stalking being romanticised as devotion. Kundan, played by Dhanush, is obsessively in love with Zoya, played by Sonam Kapoor, since childhood and pursues her relentlessly, more often than not ignoring her clear boundaries and discomfort. His actions include threatening to kill himself and disrupting her relationships.

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4. Tere Ishq Mein (2025)

Aanand L Rai's ‘Tere Ishq Mein’, headlined by Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, arrived with the heavy baggage of its reputation as the spiritual sequel to his highly controversial 2013 film, ‘Raanjhanaa’. True to expectation, the film delivers an intense, raw love story, yet once again finds itself at the heart of the national conversation, facing accusations that it glorifies toxic masculinity by packaging unchecked aggression and intense emotional coercion as the pinnacle of devotion.

The film tells the story of Shankar, an angry student activist turned Air Force pilot- played by Dhanush-whose turbulent past, marked with an aggressive romance with Mukti, essayed by Kriti Sanon, comes back haunting him years later. Notwithstanding the high-stakes drama and powerful performances, critics are of the view that the film dangerously continues the Bollywood trend of romanticising the deeply flawed male lead character.

5. Aashiqui 2 (2013)

This tragic romance tells a love story deeply enmeshed in addiction and codependency, where the self-destruction of the male lead is made the main source of drama. Rahul, played by Aditya Roy Kapur, is a successful musician struggling with alcoholism and insecurity, who turns out to be toxic for Aarohi (Shraddha Kapoor).

Image courtesy: IMDb

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