Cinema VinesIn a candid town‑hall session with Yuvaa, Kareena Kapoor Khan took a stand against what she describes as the “herd mentality” that still dominates Hindi cinema. The veteran actress, who has worked across genres for more than twenty years, warned that the industry is quick to chase the formula of violence after the 2023 hit Animal, which was directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starred Ranbir Kapoor. Kareena pointed out that the audience is smarter than the filmmakers assume and that viewers now demand substance rather than just the usual romantic or comedic tropes.
“Our audience is smarter than we think. They know exactly when it’s a good film and they want to watch it,” Kareena said. “So today it is not just about a young love story. All these things are very dated, ki abhi violence chal rahi hai… ki abhi Animal chal gayi toh chalo sab violence kar lete hai. We are herd mentality, what to say?” She added that filmmakers who dare to create thought‑provoking cinema can still find a fan base, and that the public is increasingly willing to support such projects.
While discussing her upcoming project, the investigative drama Daayra, Kareena highlighted the shift in audience expectations. The film, helmed by Meghna Gulzar and co‑written with Yash Keswani and Sima Agarwal, follows two police officers played by Kareena and Prithviraj Sukumaran as they navigate the grim world of juvenile crime. Inspired by true events, Daayra is set to hit theaters on 18 September 2026 and is being distributed by Pen Marudhar under the banners of Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios.
Animal, released in 2023, was a hyper‑violent action drama that explored a twisted father‑son relationship. Ranbir Kapoor portrayed Ranvijay Vijay Singh, a man shaped by childhood trauma inflicted by his emotionally distant father, played by Anil Kapoor. The film was a massive commercial success, grossing over ₹900 crore worldwide, and a sequel, Animal Park, is reportedly in development.
In her remarks, Kareena emphasized that not every film needs to rake in ₹200 crore or ₹500 crore. She believes the industry is evolving, with audiences now willing to watch trailers and decide whether a film truly resonates with them. “The young audience will ask the thought‑provoking questions. Now filmmakers cannot go and make a film saying it’s a comedy so people will definitely watch it!” she said, underscoring the need for smarter, more diverse storytelling in Bollywood.
