Filmmaker Mohit Suri has defended the films of Sandeep Reddy Vanga and said that he is a fan of the Kabir Singh director. Mohit said that he messaged Vanga after watching Animal (2023). According to Mohit, the controversy surrounding Vanga’s films is misconstrued.

In an interview with Filmygyan, Mohit said, “I love his films. Hum banate hai use controversial (We make his films controversial). Ye same kahani aap kisi gangster ke sath karo — Bhatt sahab ne kiya hai Sadak mein. (Make the same story with a gangster, in fact, Mahesh Bhatt has made Sadak like that). We are from that school of cinema. Ram Gopal Varma has made such films too. Everyone has the right to make their films. You have a right to like it or not like it.”

He added, “Very few people think Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh have no difference. I feel there is a big difference between the two films. There is more emotion in the second part. I loved Animal. I messaged him during Animal that I am a Sandeep Reddy Vanga fan.”

Sandeep’s films have been criticised in the past for normalising toxic masculinity and giving the female characters less agency. Further, Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, also received flak for its hyper-violent scenes.

Mohit is currently promoting his upcoming romantic-drama, Saiyaara, which marks the debut of Ananya Panday’s cousin Ahaan Panday and also stars Aneet Padda. It features music by Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, and Arslan Nizami and will be released in theatres on July 18.