Housefull 5 director defends Akshay Kumar-starrer amid criticism over sexist humour: ‘My characters are flawed, so they will do things which are unacceptable’

Housefull 5, which released last week and continues to perform strongly at the box office, has also faced significant criticism. Much of the backlash centers around the film’s jokes, which many have called extremely sexist and patriarchal in nature. Additionally, the film’s politically incorrect humor and adult-themed vulgarity have raised eyebrows, especially given that it received a U/A certificate from the censor board, allowing viewers aged 12 and above to watch it freely. Many critics and viewers have questioned how such content was deemed appropriate for this rating.

In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Housefull 5 director Tarun Mansukhani addressed the criticisms head-on. Defending the film’s controversial humour and politics, he said, “See, my characters are flawed and so naturally they will do certain things that are not societally agreeable. I’m not here to make a film so placid, where all the characters are wonderful people. We’re talking about a murder mystery, each one of them is capable of murder. These are characters who are sexist, who are misogynistic, that’s who they are as characters. It doesn’t mean the actors are like that as human beings. It’s not a reflection of real life, nor that actor, or me as a director, or the producer.”

Also Read | Housefull 5 director blames viewers for focusing on ‘skin show, objectification of women’ in the Akshay Kumar-starrer: ‘The plot is driven by women’

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Further explaining his stance, Mansukhani added, “Other than that, I’m also saying I have stripped the men, you see, Dino was naked in two sequences. All three male leads have shown their butts in the film. Why isn’t anyone saying I’m sexist towards men? You’re picking and choosing what you want to say about the film.” He also mentioned that the criticism doesn’t bother him much. According to him, while making the film, he wasn’t focused on how people would react to such content. His primary goal was simply to entertain the audience and earn their appreciation.

Despite the negative reviews, Housefull 5 has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark globally within a week of its release.