Javed delved into the distinct evolution of the ‘angry young man’ persona epitomized by Amitabh Bachchan and contrasted it with the characters portrayed by contemporary actors in today’s films.

He elaborated, “Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of anger stemmed from a profound sense of deep hurt. The audience could visibly sense the pain that fueled his rage. Over time, however, filmmakers began to overlook the underlying hurt, focusing solely on the anger itself, which resulted in a cruder and less nuanced representation. This shift led to the decline of the ‘angry young man’ archetype. In today’s context, who is the contemporary man? What are his responsibilities towards society, his peers, his family, or even himself? The line between duty and selfishness has become blurred. This ambiguity has led to a lack of great characters and iconic stars.”

When the host quickly interjected, questioning whether Javed was suggesting that Ranbir Kapoor could never achieve the same level of stardom as Amitabh because of his role in Animal, Javed humorously responded, “No, no, I may write a film for him.” This isn’t the first instance where Javed has openly critiqued Animal.

The series “Javed’s Angry Young Men,” directed by Namrata Rao and produced by Salman Khan Films, Excel Media and Entertainment, and Tiger Baby, offers an in-depth exploration of this character archetype. The three-part series features insights not only from Javed and Salim but also from their children—Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Farhan Akhtar, and Zoya Akhtar—as well as contributions from celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, and Yash Chopra.

Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and released in theaters in 2023, became a massive box office success. The film features Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Triptii Dimri alongside Ranbir Kapoor, who plays the titular character Ranvijay Singh—a man who embarks on a violent rampage after his estranged father’s life is threatened. Despite its commercial success, Animal faced significant criticism for its depiction of violence and misogyny.