Veteran actor Jackie Shroff has recently addressed rumors surrounding his potential collaboration with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, as well as sharing his perspective on the violence depicted in Vanga's controversial film, Animal.
Recent reports suggested that Shroff was in talks to star in Vanga's upcoming project, however, Shroff has denied signing any such film. While he acknowledged discussions with the director, he clarified that nothing is finalized.
Shroff also weighed in on the criticism surrounding the level of violence in Animal, which starred Ranbir Kapoor. The film faced backlash for its graphic depictions of violence and alleged misogyny. However, some viewers felt that the violence was overhyped. Rashmika Mandanna, who starred in Animal, stated that the team was prepared to receive criticism for the violence and misogyny depicted in the film.
Shroff's upcoming projects include the crime drama Chidiya Udd, directed by Ravi Jadhav, which is inspired by Aabid Surti's novel Cages. The series also features Bhoomika Meena, Sikandar Kher, Madhur Mittal, Mayur More, and Mita Vashisht. Shroff is also set to appear in Anupam Kher's Tanvi The Great, and Vivash directed by Navneet Baj Saini. Additionally, he will be seen in Atlee's Baby John, where he plays the villain "Babbar Sher". Varun Dhawan, who also stars in Baby John, praised Shroff's professionalism and called him one of the coolest actors.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga has been a topic of discussion in the industry, not only for the violence in his films but also for other controversies. He criticized a Mumbai production house for allegedly rejecting an actor due to their role in Kabir Singh. There were also reports of a fallout with Deepika Padukone regarding her role in his film Spirit, allegedly due to disagreements over work hours and Telugu dialogues. Vanga has also defended Animal against criticism, stating that filmmakers are easy targets. Despite the controversies, Animal was a commercial success, with Vanga crediting the audience's positive response.