Koffee With Karan 7: Vijay Deverakonda could ‘empathize with’ Arjun Reddy, questions misogynistic remarks on Kabir Singh

The latest episode of Koffee With Karan 7 saw Vijay Deverakonda finally talk about the backlash Kabir Singh received. The actor, who was a part of the original Telugu film Arjun Reddy, was very sure about the character and thus, he took it up. Vijay defended the movies but also shared a different point of view, when he came to the talk show with Ananya Panday.

Once host Karan Johar asked Vijay about his views on the backlash received for Kabir Singh, the actor said that his job is to empathize with a character and not judge him. “If I’m judging him, I can’t play him,” Vijay explained.

He further added that if he is conflicted with the role or doesn’t understand it, he would not take it up. Since he could empathize with Arjun Reddy, he took on the project, which is now the massive hit in his career.

Having understood the relationship Arjun shared with Preeti, Vijay said, “I didn’t find it misogynistic or anti-feministic. It was just two people who had a unique relationship and to them, it was love.”

The actor finally addressed the elephant in the room – the slap scene in Kabir Singh – which received a lot of attention because it was tagged as wrong. “I’m no one to say if it’s right or wrong but they did it and ended up with a kid. However, I’m not saying nobody should have a problem with it. You should have a problem with it,” Vijay shared on the show.

He empathized with how painful it would be for a person who has been in an abusive relationship, to see that play out on the big screen. Calling it the worst nightmare for a woman, wife or girlfriend, he said that people would hate watching that scene play out again.

“I understand that you disagree with the film and respect that you don’t like it,” he shared.

Vijay also said that he is nothing like Arjun in the physically abusive manner. Stating that he would never raise his hand, the actor gave his solution to the problem – walking out. Vijay said that he would walk out the minute he feels the relationship is reaching a point where it becomes abusive.

“You don’t need that stress in life. If something is stressful, walk off,” he suggested.

When Karan pointed out the irony of Kabir Singh – that women came to watch the film in theatres and sat till the very last minute, Vijay also recalled how women showered praises on Arjun Reddy and asked for one in their life. “They saw his protective nature,” Vijay reminisced.

A big name in Tollywood, Vijay Deverakonda is now set for his grand Bollywood debut. He plays the male lead in Puri Jagannadh’s Liger. Ananya plays the female lead and his love interest in the film.