Bollywood’s portrayal of masculinity has long been a topic of discussion, and recently, renowned educator Dr. Vikas Divyakirti shared his views on two iconic films—Shah Rukh Khan’s Darr and Amitabh Bachchan’s Mard. Speaking on the We Are Yuva YouTube channel, Dr. Divyakirti raised concerns about how these movies depict male characters, especially focusing on problematic narratives around love and masculinity.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Character in Darr
Dr. Vikas Divyakirti expressed his discomfort with Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Yash Chopra’s Darr. In the movie, Shah Rukh plays a man obsessed with Juhi Chawla’s character, often crossing boundaries. Dr. Divyakirti highlighted the disturbing message conveyed in the film, particularly when Shah Rukh’s character sings, “Jab tum haan kehdo, jab tum naa kehdo, tum meri Kiran ho” (Whether you say yes or no, you are mine, Kiran).
He pointed out that this attitude reflects a toxic sense of possession, where the female character’s consent is irrelevant to the male protagonist. “Is he a lover or a rapist?” questioned Dr. Divyakirti, emphasizing how such depictions of love normalize crude masculinity and unhealthy relationships.
Criticism of Mard and the Portrayal of Pain
Dr. Divyakirti also reflected on Amitabh Bachchan’s 1985 film Mard, where a scene shows a newborn baby having “Mard” (man) written on his chest with blood. He criticized the notion of teaching men to suppress pain, which is depicted in the movie’s famous line, “Mard ko dard nahi hota” (A man feels no pain).
He highlighted how such portrayals shaped the mentality of an entire generation, promoting the harmful idea that men must endure pain silently. He called it “stupidity,” stating that this outdated concept of masculinity is far from reality and has negatively impacted men’s emotional health.
Objectification of Women in Bollywood
Dr. Divyakirti also delved into the objectification of women in Bollywood. He criticized the way female characters are often shown as existing only for the male lead, with no personal goals, dreams, or autonomy. He used examples from both Darr and Mard to illustrate how Bollywood has long reinforced the idea that women are merely objects meant to serve men.
While acknowledging that men, too, are sometimes objectified in films, he emphasized that such narratives are far more common when it comes to women. He argued that these portrayals contribute to unhealthy societal expectations about gender roles and relationships.
Dr. Vikas Divyakirti’s comments open up an important conversation about how Bollywood movies have influenced societal attitudes toward masculinity and the way relationships are portrayed on screen.
