Overview

• Pankaj Kapur said toxic masculinity exists in society and argued that showing it on screen does not amount to glorifying it.
• He praised Shahid Kapoor’s work in the film and credited Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider with unlocking Shahid’s dramatic potential, also noting his turn in Farzi.
• Kapur explained he gave Shahid only a brief 6–7 day workshop and said Shahid later associated with a Naseeruddin Shah workshop in Delhi.
• The 2019 blockbuster has long faced criticism for misogyny, with previous defenses from figures like Anurag Kashyap and Manoj Bajpayee framing the issue as one of creative freedom.
• Multiple outlets on October 5–6 reported Kapur’s remarks from The Lallantop, which have renewed public discussion without prompting any new official action.