Housefull 5 Director Defends 'Sexist' Label: ‘My Lead Boys Are Showing Their But*s'

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Tarun Mansukhani hit back at the backlash, arguing that flawed characters don't necessarily reflect the personal beliefs of the filmmaker.
Tarun Mansukhani, director of the recently released Housefull 5, has addressed the growing criticism surrounding the film's allegedly sexist and objectifying portrayal of women. While the comedy has become a box office hit, crossing Rs 200 crore worldwide, several viewers and critics have raised concerns about its heavy use of sexual innuendos and the portrayal of female characters in revealing outfits.
In an interview with Just Too Filmy, Mansukhani hit back at the backlash, arguing that flawed characters don't necessarily reflect the personal beliefs of the filmmaker. 'Every film, every frame of the character, is not the reflection of the director's life. The character is flawed, sure, but why can't he be flawed? Why can't he be misogynistic or sexist? That is who he is," he said.
He further added that objectification isn't one-sided and pointed to the portrayal of male actors in the film. 'A lot of people have told me a lot of things about girls being objectified. Dino Morea is shirtless all the time. Nobody says anything. My three lead boys are showing their butt. Cheeky, isn't it? But nobody says anything. It is as you wish to see it, and it is fine. As long as you feel about it, sure," he noted.
The director also expressed disappointment over the nature of film criticism today. Instead of critiquing technical aspects or storytelling techniques, he feels the discourse has become personal. 'I wish they would criticise technique, my storytelling. I wish they criticised other departments they are meant to criticise. Right now, it seems more critical opinions come on a personal basis. I have a problem with people who turn around and say, 'Oh, don't watch this film.' Our industry is already going through turbulent times, don't find ways to make it worse," he said.
Housefull 5 features an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Ranjeet, Johny Lever, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Chunky Panday, Dino Morea, Sonam Bajwa, and Soundarya Sharma. The film, set on a cruise and involving a whodunit murder mystery, has been embraced by audiences despite its polarising content.
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