Vikas Divyakirti questions 'crude masculinity' of Yash Chopra's films; asks 'Shah Rukh Khan in Darr is a lover or a rapist?'

Dr Vikas Divyakirti raised concerns about Yash Chopra's films like Kabhi Kabhie and Darr, particularly their portrayal of masculinity. He pointed out how Shah Rukh Khan's character in Darr, who is dangerously obsessed, romanticized stalking, prompting discussions about problematic representations in Bollywood's narrative of love and obsession.
Shah Rukh is known for playing the hero, but his role in Darr remains controversial for its portrayal of obsessive behavior.The film romanticized stalking, with lyrics like “Tu haan kar ya na kar, Tu hai meri Kiran,” downplaying consent. Educator Dr. Vikas Divyakirti recently questioned whether the film glorified a lover or a potential predator.

In Darr, directed by Yash Chopra and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, SRK plays an obsessive man fixated on Juhi’s character. In an interview with We Are Yuvaa’s YouTube channel, Dr Vikas Divyakirti critiqued the film’s portrayal of "masculine love." He highlighted how the character disregards the woman's consent, questioning whether this behavior reflects love or something more troubling. He emphasized that the film's depiction of possessiveness represents crude masculinity. The controversial lyrics, written by Anand Bakshi, reinforced this theme.

Vikas discussed the concept of “complicit” masculinity, often culturally accepted, and cited Yash Chopra's Kabhi Kabhie as an example. He criticized the lyrics of its title song, written by Sahir Ludhianvi, for portraying a woman as an object created solely for a man’s fulfillment. Vikas questioned the idea that the woman’s only purpose is to give the man a sense of completion, disregarding her own life, dreams, and individuality. This, he argued, reflects a problematic mindset where the woman’s autonomy is sidelined.
Divyakirti further noted that while both men and women sometimes express these ideas, it’s more common to hear such language from men. He emphasized that objectifying men is just as harmful as objectifying women. However, he clarified that this doesn't imply women are always right, but rather that this problematic mindset is more frequently seen in male-dominated narratives.