Men tell Nishant Dahiya to die after 'Mrs.' role
What's the story
Actor Nishant Dahiya, who starred in the Sanya Malhotra-led film Mrs., has been facing extreme online hate from male viewers.
In a recent interview with Zoom, Dahiya revealed that he has been receiving messages advising him to "eat rat poison and die."
Despite the horrifying backlash, the actor also spoke of an overwhelming response from female fans who loved his performance as Diwakar Kumar in the film.
Character defense
Dahiya defended his character's actions in 'Mrs.'
Defending his character, Dahiya said, "Diwakar is not violent. He is not doing anything wrong. He doesn't have any sinister motive."
"His biggest drawback is he feels whatever he is doing is not wrong. A lot of men also feel the same."
"Everyone has problems, but not many of them recognize it. There is no self-awareness."
The actor revealed that some male viewers forget he is just playing a role and have been abusing him online.
Film controversy
'Mrs.' faced criticism for negative portrayal of men
The film Mrs. has faced backlash from some quarters, especially those who feel it paints men in a bad light. Some social media users even argued that not all husbands are like Dahiya's character, Diwakar.
Addressing the backlash, Dahiya said, "Our film is not about villainizing the husband... The film is made for a much broader perspective."
"It has been made to empower women and allow them to make the choice that they want to make."
Role acceptance
Dahiya's initial reluctance and final acceptance of role
Dahiya admitted that he had initially turned down the role offered by director Arati Kadav.
He was apprehensive because of how he reacted to The Great Indian Kitchen, where he "despised the male character." But after speaking to casting director Mukesh Chhabra, he took the plunge.
Despite the controversy surrounding Mrs., Dahiya stands firm that the film isn't promoting "toxic feminism" but empowering women.