Vishal Bhardwaj DEFENDS violence in cinema, says ‘we are born out of Mahabharata’ : Bollywood News

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has weighed in on the growing presence of explicit violence in contemporary cinema, stating that he has no personal objection to it as long as it is presented with aesthetic intent and reflects societal realities.

Vishal Bhardwaj DEFENDS violence in cinema, says ‘we are born out of Mahabharata’

Vishal Bhardwaj DEFENDS violence in cinema, says ‘we are born out of Mahabharata’In an interview with ANI, Bhardwaj addressed concerns about the increasing normalisation of graphic action in films. “Normalise se zyada mujhe lag raha hai ki bahut explicit ho gaya hai violence, which is fine for me, personally,” he said. Drawing a cultural parallel, he added, “We are the race who is born out of Mahabharat… the scale of violence in the Mahabharat is unimaginable… that element of violence exists in our DNA.”

Over the past few years, several mainstream films such as Animal, Marco and Dhurandhar have foregrounded heightened violence, sparking debate about audience tolerance and creative responsibility. Bhardwaj suggested that what matters is how violence is framed. He referred to the idea of “poetic violence,” citing international filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai and Quentin Tarantino, both known for stylised depictions of bloodshed.

“Ek poetic violence ek cheez hoti hai… Tarantino ne jis tareeke se kiya hai… wo bhi apne aap mein ek poetic violence hota hai,” he noted, adding that aesthetics are essential even in brutal narratives. Speaking about his latest film O’ Romeo, Bhardwaj explained that the characters are gangsters and therefore violence is intrinsic to their world. “If you are not talking in terms of the contemporary language of filmmaking which is happening around you, then you start feeling dated. Par usmein aesthetics bhi rakhne ki zarurat hoti hai,” he said.

Bhardwaj further argued that cinema often mirrors existing societal conditions. “Given the kind and level of violence that currently exists in our society, there is nothing wrong if it is shown on screen as well,” he stated, clarifying that O’ Romeo is an adult film.

Released during Valentine’s Week, O’ Romeo stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in lead roles.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Vishal Bhardwaj reveals why Aamir Khan has been thanked in O’Romeo: “His suggestion changed so many things for me; wanted to thank Aamir from the BOTTOM of my heart”