Exclusive - Bobby Deol was not a villain in Animal, he takes revenge, should have called an anti-hero: Guddu Dhanoa

Veteran filmmaker Guddu Dhanoa, known for launching Bobby Deol’s career with Barsaat (1995), recently shared his thoughts on the 2023 blockbuster Animal during an interview with Moneycontrol.com. The director, who has followed Bobby Deol’s journey closely over the years, weighed in on the controversial classification of Deol’s role in the film.

Speaking candidly about the Ranbir Kapoor-led action movie directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Dhanoa said, “I went to watch Animal. It is an action film and I liked it a lot. Bobby Deol is my favourite hero in it.”
Bobby Deol’s portrayal of Abrar, a silent yet menacing character who dominates the second half of Animal, was widely discussed. Many labelled him the villain of the film. However, Dhanoa disagrees with that interpretation.

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“People said that Bobby Deol is playing a villain, but I didn't feel that way. He is not a villain,” Dhanoa clarified. “He plays a character who takes his revenge. He should have been called an anti-hero, but I didn’t understand why he was called a villain.”
Guddu Dhanoa's comments come at a time when the line between hero and villain is increasingly blurred in contemporary cinema, particularly in high-octane action films that explore morally complex characters.
Despite the darker shades of Bobby Deol’s role, Dhanoa remains appreciative of the film and Deol’s performance. “But I liked it. I enjoyed Animal a lot,” he added.