In a recent interview with ETimes, actor Kunal Kapoor discussed the evolving portrayal of heroes in Bollywood films, citing examples from Ranbir Kapoor's Animal and Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh. Kunal highlighted how these characters, once unconventional and controversial, now resonate with today's audience unlike in the past.

Kunal Kapoor noted, "Today, the audience accepts all kinds of heroes. You have characters like Shahid Kapoor in Kabir Singh and Ranbir Kapoor in Animal. These characters would not have worked maybe 10-12 years ago because people expected heroes to be a certain way. The more we stretch that mold, the better it is for everybody."

Reflecting on his career trajectory from films like Rang De Basanti to Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana and Gold, Kunal highlighted the shifting landscape of Bollywood storytelling. "When I started out, there were certain kinds of movies that would be made, and the hero was expected to be of a certain kind," he said. "Fortunately, what’s happened is that the mold has changed now and different kinds of characters are being written, and different stories are being made. That’s the kind of space I enjoy.”

Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, sparked controversy for its portrayal of extreme violence and its examination of toxic masculinity through Ranbir Kapoor's character Ranvijay Singh. Co-starring Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Triptii Dimri, the film delves into a turbulent father-son relationship and received mixed reviews upon release.

Similarly, Kabir Singh, a remake of Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Telugu hit Arjun Reddy, starred Shahid Kapoor in a role that polarized opinions due to its depiction of a troubled protagonist grappling with anger and romance. Despite criticism for its portrayal of misogyny, the film emerged as a box-office success in 2019.

Both films underscore a broader trend in Bollywood toward exploring complex and morally ambiguous characters, challenging traditional hero archetypes, and pushing boundaries in storytelling.