Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has found himself at the center of a discussion on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after publicly congratulating filmmaker Milap Zaveri for the success of his recently released film, ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’. The film, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, has reportedly garnered significant box office numbers, collecting ₹16.75 crore net in India and ₹21 crore worldwide within its first two days of release.
Mehta Faces Criticism for Praising ‘Misogynistic’ Film
Mehta’s congratulatory message to Zaveri, which read, “Hey @MassZaveri, congrats on the roaring success of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat! May you keep charming the masses!”, drew criticism from an X user. The user re-shared Mehta’s post and expressed disapproval, stating, “This ‘sensitive, intelligent’ man is busy congratulating the writer-director of those misogynistic films where ‘No’ means ‘Yes’. Calls it a success, not realising how deeply such trash will poison the minds of young viewers. Bravo.”
Mehta’s Defense: Films Don’t Necessarily Shape Behavior, Colleagues Should Support Each Other
In his response, Hansal Mehta defended his stance by arguing that films, in his opinion, do not fundamentally change societal behavior. He drew parallels with acclaimed gangster films, suggesting that they did not inherently turn viewers into criminals. Mehta wrote, “One always wishes films could change the world – that Shahid could heal divisions, that Arth could empower, that Saraansh could awaken empathy, that Nil Battey Sannata could inspire a million mothers. That Life is Beautiful could prevent genocide. But alas.”
He further elaborated with examples such as ‘Satya’, ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘The Godfather’, ‘Reservoir Dogs’, and ‘Pulp Fiction’, questioning whether these films actually incited violent behavior. Mehta concluded his response by emphasizing the importance of collegial support and professional courtesy, stating, “If films can poison, then surely they can enlighten too. Maybe even teach a bit of civility to you. Perhaps even how one colleague can congratulate another on their success without the need for virtue signalling and grandstanding.”
‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’ reportedly tells the story of a politician named Vikramaditya (played by Harshvardhan Rane) who falls deeply in love with an actor named Adaa (played by Sonam Bajwa), though their perspectives on love differ.