Shah Rukh Khan has long been celebrated for his iconic, heroic roles, but his portrayal of negative characters has sparked debates, especially concerning the 1993 film Darr.
In the movie, Khan plays a dangerously obsessed man who stalks Kiran (played by Juhi Chawla) with the infamous line, “Tu haan kar ya na kar, tu hai meri Kiran” (Whether you say yes or no, you are mine, Kiran).
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While the film was a huge blockbuster, it has faced criticism over the years for romanticizing problematic behavior like stalking and obsession, raising questions about how it handles the theme of consent.
Recently, educator Dr. Vikas Divyakirti reignited this debate in an interview, where he criticized Shah Rukh Khan’s character in Darr for disregarding the importance of consent.
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He questioned the narrative, asking, “Is this character a lover or rapist?” Dr. Divyakirti argued that the film’s message conveyed through Shah Rukh’s character, glorifies crude masculinity, where the male protagonist believes that the woman belongs to him regardless of her consent.
However, what Divyakirti should realize is the fact that whenever SRK played villain roles, he made sure they were met with a tragic end. He never glorified them and always made sure they were punished for their bad deeds.
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This isn’t Dr. Divyakirti’s first critique of Bollywood films. He previously commented on Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, calling it crass and rude.
Dr. Vikas Divyakirti appears as a UPSC professor in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail. The film, inspired by Manoj Sharma’s true story, chronicles his journey from failing 12th grade to becoming an IPS officer.