‘I didn't make Housefull 5 for Cannes'. Director's defence against criticism

The Print

a day ago

Housefull 5 stars Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh as the three Jollies, who are facing murder charges on a cruise. The film also stars Sonam Bajwa, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nargis Fakhri.
'Didn't make Housefull 5 for Cannes,' Mansukhani told ThePrint. 'It's a film for which you take a bucket of popcorn, enjoy, and have a laugh.'
New Delhi: Director Tarun Mansukhani isn't bothered by the criticism his film Housefull 5 has been receiving. Both critics and social media users have raised concerns around objectification and misogyny in the film. Instead, he is glad that the audience is laughing hysterically.
The movie is written and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. At the box office, the film has crossed the benchmark of Rs 100 crore within four days of its release.
Mansukhani, who has also directed Dostana (2008), said that with every film, the director tries to hit a chord with 80 per cent of the audience. And, for him, Housefull 5 has already done it.
'I am a happy man,' he said. 'The fact that there is conversation around it is a good feeling for any writer-director. It's the indifference that would have been a problem.'
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Reflection of society
Mansukhani admits that characters in the film are flawed; they aren't perfect people, they come from a world that is well-travelled, well-educated, and is inherently misogynistic and sexist. But it shouldn't be seen as the filmmaker's endorsement.
'And, if Housefull 5 is offensive, what about the comment section of female influencers?' the filmmaker asked. 'And if Virat Kohli's daughter can be threatened, that's what world of political correctness we are living in.'
Mansukhani said that people who drop crass comments on social media, those who objectify and abuse women online, are the same people who turn around and call out his film.
Interestingly, Housefull holds the distinction of being the first Bollywood franchise to roll out five films — all of which have consistently leaned into double-meaning humour.
Still, Manukhani isn't letting the criticism get under his skin.
'These kinda jokes fly on WhatsApp groups daily. I just put it out in a film. It's a reflection of what people talk and joke about on a daily basis,' he said.
Mansukhani added that everyone loves watching this kind of content — the madness, the humour, the politically incorrectness that Housefull as a franchise has created. But no one dares to admit it because everyone wants to come across as woke and politically correct.
The negative conversations around the film have kept it in the headlines. And, the filmmaker strongly believes in 'bad publicity is also good publicity.'
'The mass of the audience is laughing away hysterically in theatres. I must have done something right,' he said.