Bollywood actor Chitrangda Singh has publicly addressed the significant online criticism surrounding the recently released film, 'Housefull 5'. The comedy franchise installment faced a strong backlash for its portrayal of female characters, with many viewers and critics pointing out that the humor predominantly targeted women's bodies.
Addressing the Script and Actor's Perspective
In a candid conversation with News18, Singh revealed that she did take note of the negative comments once they started pouring in. However, she provided insight into the actor's process when signing a project. She clarified that when an actor hears a script, they do not receive a detailed shot-by-shot breakdown. The visualization is limited to what the screenplay narrates.
"I did give it a thought [once the comments began coming in]. But when you hear a script, you don't hear a shot breakdown. You only visualise as much as the screenplay tells you," Singh explained. She emphasized that the final execution of a scene, including how jokes are presented visually, ultimately rests with the film's director.
On Women's Roles and the Reality of Glamour
Chitrangda Singh acknowledged a key point raised by critics: the female characters in 'Housefull 5' had less substantial roles compared to their male counterparts. She connected this to a broader, often unspoken reality within the film industry for many actresses.
She stated that women frequently have to establish themselves first in glamorous or conventionally appealing roles before being considered for stronger, more performance-oriented parts. Singh was careful to note that her explanation was not a full-fledged defense of the film's choices. "I'm not trying to justify any of it. But I think every actor only has so much control over what they're doing," she added.
Speaking specifically about the film's brand of humor, she admitted that physical comedy involving women can sometimes cross a line for the audience. "Sometimes physical comedy where a woman is involved does get a little, I suppose, uncomfortable to watch," she stated.
The Tricky Nature of Comedy and Audience Judgment
Singh elaborated on the unpredictable nature of comedy, noting that a joke's reception is never guaranteed. "Sometimes they land and sometime they don't. It's only when they don't land that people start coming and criticising," she observed. To provide context, she referenced iconic comedy actors like Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy, whose films also featured bold physical comedy that was widely enjoyed.
She also mentioned older films, such as 'Party', to illustrate that such comedic styles are not entirely new to Indian cinema. Shifting the discussion to judgment in cinema, she cited another film, 'Dhurandhar', which some viewers judged solely for its violent scenes.
"Sometimes when a film like Dhurandhar comes, some people may only look at it as a film with violent scenes but that's the storytelling," she said, explaining that every genre employs its own narrative tools. Sharing her personal stance, Singh said, "I don't judge it. It's up to the audience and their discretion to watch or not watch or agree or not agree with it."
She advocated for allowing creative expression some leeway, suggesting that audiences can sometimes be overly critical. "Sometimes, we get slightly over-judgmental. But you got to take it in the right vein and give it certain cinematic allowance," she concluded. Meanwhile, the entertainment portal ETimes has rated 'Housefull 5' with 2.5 stars.
