In ‘Animal,’ Mansi’s character faces sexual violation by Abrar and later encounters threats at gunpoint from the film’s protagonist, Ranvijay, played by Ranbir Kapoor.Having witnessed patriarchy growing up in Haryana, Mansi acknowledged understanding the context of certain characters while highlighting the necessity to distinguish between personal beliefs and on-screen portrayals.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Mansi discussed a post-credits scene in which her character becomes the new wife of her slain husband’s brother Aziz, who now resembles Ranvijay after plastic surgery. Addressing the lack of consent in the scene, Mansi humorously noted that Aziz’s character was in so much rage and had just killed someone before declaring her as his wife while holding a knife. She explained that, considering the character dynamics, it was impossible for her character to refuse Aziz, and she would have said yes anyway.
Regarding the controversial scene involving Ranvijay asking Triptii Dimri's character Zoya to lick his shoe, Mansi shared her personal stance, stating that if she were in Zoya’s position, she would have walked out. However, she acknowledged that characters like Zoya may have their reasons for their choices, emphasizing the actor’s role in portraying rather than judging characters. In a previous interview, Tripti Dimri also revealed that she would never agree with what Zoya has done in that scene but defended it as an essential aspect of the character.
Earlier in an interview with Galatta Plus, Sandeep Reddy Vanga addressed the same issue, categorizing the controversial scene as a ‘test’ rather than endorsing misogynistic elements.
Mansi reflected on her experiences, expressing disapproval of toxic masculinity and underscoring the need for gender equality. She revealed how patriarchy and masculinity played a significant role in her life while growing up in Haryana. She believes that if she had done the ‘Animal’ movie 10 years ago, she might have faced significant problems. She emphasized the importance of equality and the ongoing journey women have to battle suppression.
‘Kabir Singh’ actress Nikita Dutta talks about the ‘similarities’ in her and Triptii Dimri’s role in ‘Animal’: ‘I hundred percent felt that…’
Despite the controversy, ‘Animal’ has achieved massive success at the box office, grossing nearly Rs 850 crore worldwide, marking a significant hit for Ranbir Kapoor. This marks Mansi’s appearance in two blockbuster movies in the same year, with the first being ‘Pathaan.’
