R Madhavan, in a recent interview, defended his movie Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein against allegations of glorifying stalking.
R Madhavan- Dia Mirza starrer Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM) has a cult following. Besides the lead pair’s enchanting chemistry, the romantic drama is also remembered for its hit songs. While the film continues to remain popular in some circles, over the years, a section of the audience have also pointed out the ‘problematic’ plot points in the film especially the ‘stalking’ angle.
According to Indian Express, in a recent chat with India TV, R Madhavan defended his 2001 film against these allegations.
The actor said, “Social media is brutal, but it keeps us in check. At the same time, you can’t make this the yardstick with which you travel to your next project…”
Madhavan opined that most films that people loved when they were younger would have things to complain about when viewed through contemporary lens in today’s times.
“At the time when phones and social media didn’t exist, how would you contact a girl? What was considered decent? My father could be accused of stalking. If it is a love marriage, there is no way to get in touch. If a mere letter can be considered stalking,” the Test actor was quoted as saying.
He continued, “In our villages, they used to have festivals every month. You know why? Because it was a social interaction. How do you meet a girl in a city today? You’re not going to meet your life partner in a bar. That’s not why you go there, right? For a normal middle-class guy, where is the opportunity for him to meet a woman? If I have to write a story, how do I write it where a guy, without social media, can approach a woman in this day and age. So, in RHTDM, what is the best way for him to do it? He did what he did. We can argue till the cows come home, but give the boy a chance.”
The actor revealed that he would go to nightclubs at one point in his life, and there would always be a couple of men behaving inappropriately with women and given other men a bad name. He further added that these days, most men are ‘afraid’ to approach women for the fear of being accused of inappropriate behaviour.
For the unversed, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein follows the story of Rajeev who impersonates the person his love interest is supposed to wed and attempts to woo her.
