Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor is basking in the praise for her recent performance in Nitesh Tiwari’s romantic drama film “Bawaal.” In the movie, Kapoor portrays the character of an epileptic patient, a role that has earned her widespread love and recognition from both audiences and critics.
“Bawaal,” directed by Nitesh Tiwari, took an unconventional approach by blending a poignant romantic narrative with historical settings. The film follows Janhvi Kapoor’s character alongside co-star Varun Dhawan as they embark on a journey to mend their relationship by visiting significant World War II locations. This unique juxtaposition has led to both applause and controversy.
However, the movie has faced criticism for allegedly downplaying the Holocaust, an accusation that Nitesh Tiwari firmly denies. Kapoor, in a recent interview with Galatta Plus, staunchly defended the film’s artistic choices and thematic intentions. “The heart of the film was in the right place,” she affirmed.
The actress expressed her deep involvement in understanding the film’s underlying message, stating, “I had a lot of clarity on what we were trying to say and where that was coming from, and I believe that it’s a very pure thought of just trying to move people by what had happened and try to hopefully motivate them to understand that our problems are nowhere near anything compared to what had happened, and hopefully get them to see things in a new way.”
Drawing a parallel to the internet phenomenon of 2015, where people debated the color of a dress, Kapoor underscored that differing perspectives could be applied to interpreting “Bawaal” as well. She emphasized, “I come with the information of the intention and the thought, and everything that we felt when we made it and what we set out to do. So I can only really look at it right now in that way.”
Meanwhile, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari also weighed in on the controversy during an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla. Expressing his disappointment at the questioning of his intentions, Tiwari urged critics to engage in meaningful conversations rather than casting doubts on his credibility. “You can question the creative process, you can question the creatives, but please do not question the intent. The moment you start questioning the intent, it becomes hurtful. It puts a question on your credibility, which has taken so many years of hard work to build. That is something that I think should be avoided. I’m all for criticism, but it should be a conversation,” Tiwari emphasized.
As “Bawaal” continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of romance and historical exploration, the controversy surrounding its thematic approach remains a topic of debate in cinematic circles. Amid differing opinions, the film stands as a testament to the complexities of artistic interpretation and intention.
