Aanand L Rai reveals people didn't see Dhanush as 'hero' when he cast him in 'Raanjhanaa' opposite Sonam Kapoor

Aanand L Rai

recently opened up about his decision to cast

Dhanush

in 'Raanjhana'' opposite

Sonam Kapoor

. According to him, people saw him as 'odd' as he didn't fit into the popular '

hero

' description.
In an interview with Mashable India, the filmmaker said that during 2012-2013, the perception of a hero was undergoing a gradual transformation. In the northern regions, a hero was conventionally viewed as a 6-foot-tall, fair boy.

In that context, Dhanush, who held stardom in the south, was perceived as unconventional. However, the filmmaker asserted that despite this perception, when one watches Dhanush in the film and observes his performance, there is an undeniable appeal that surpasses any preconceived notions.

The director declined to disclose the criticisms or negative comments he received regarding Dhanush during that period. Subsequently, the director and Dhanush collaborated on the film

Atrangi Re

. They have also announced their partnership for the upcoming movie Tere Ishk Mein.

In the course of the conversation, Aanand L Rai addressed concerns about his film

Raanjhanaa

allegedly promoting stalking through the lead character's actions. He acknowledged the accusations, stating that when faced with claims of stalking, he pondered on the perspective, admitting that he wasn't aware if it indeed qualified as stalking. Rai explained that, for the character in Varanasi, such behavior was his way of expressing love. While he acknowledged it as incorrect, he clarified that he wasn't attempting to defend it, emphasizing that it was the only way the character knew to convey his emotions.

Actors

Swara Bhasker

and Abhay Deol, both associated with the film, had previously expressed their views on the movie, suggesting that it glorified stalking. In 2020,

Abhay Deol

took to social media to express concerns about the film's regressive message. He stated that Bollywood has often portrayed a theme where a boy is encouraged to pursue a girl persistently until she relents, a narrative that, in reality, can contribute to incidents of sexual violence. Abhay Deol emphasized the potential harm of glorifying such behavior on screen, noting that it could lead to victim-blaming in real-life situations.