Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, was a big hit last year. However, it faced criticism for its perceived sexism and endorsement of toxic masculinity. Responding to backlash from filmmaker Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan’s ex-wife, Sandeep suggested in a recent interview that she should first criticise Aamir’s films.
Vanga identified a scene in the film Dil, where Aamir’s character threatens a woman with assault but they end up falling in love. Vanga spoke about Kiran in an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, and said, “I want to tell that woman that go and ask Aamir Khan about the song ‘Khambe jaisi khadi hai’, what was that? Then come back to me.”
However, videos of Aamir apologising for that particular song and it’s lyrics have now resurfaced online. The PK actor said on Aaj Tak, “Hindi films have not been responsible enough, especially the way we project men and women. When we show something wrong in the films, we also show that the result of it is something positive. Which is wrong. And we often make the women an ‘item’ in films. Even the songs are like ‘tu cheez badi hai mast mast’. And even I am involved in this and I have done such films. ‘khambe jaisi khadi hai, ladki hai ya chadi hai.’ We are calling women ‘khamba’ but not humans. I am very ashamed of it.”
Look @imvangasandeep #AamirKhan apologized in front of everyone for using “khambe jaisi khadi”song in Dil…will you ever do the same for showing women as objects in your movies https://t.co/22ypuOCTgb pic.twitter.com/bBBp7FjPJu
— RAJ (@AamirsDevotee) February 3, 2024
Aamir, on Koffee with Karan, had spoken against the long-standing exploitation of women, both in films and in real life. Applauding the courage of women speaking up, Aamir acknowledged the role of films, including his own, in promoting such behaviour and highlighted the patriarchal nature of societies, including in India.
He admitted that it took him time to realise the impact of such actions, and reflected on his own contribution to this issue, citing the song “Khambe Jaisi Khadi Hai,” which he recognised as a form of objectification.
He had said, “A lot of societies in the world are patriarchal. India is one of them, and the way we objectify women in our films, I have said it on my show Satyamev Jayate, I have done it. I have sung a song “Khambe Jaisi Khadi Hai”. Literally, objectifying women in every sentence. So, it is awful that we have been doing it.”
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