Ranbir Kapoor responds to being labelled 'toxic' after Alia Bhatt's lipstick comment

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor recently shared his perspective on dealing with negativity and responded to online trolls who have labelled him 'toxic.'

In a video shared on X, Ranbir emphasised the importance of balancing both positivity and negativity, especially for artists and individuals in the public eye.

Ranbir Kapoor, known for his roles in films like "Barfi!," revealed, "Hey, I'm not on social media, so I don't have the need to deal with it, which is a great thing. But I feel negativity is very important, especially if you are an artist and if you have some work out there. I think both need to exist because then that creates a balance. You know, sometimes a lot of things are written about you as an actor, a lot of opinions are made which are not necessarily true. If you take it with a pinch of salt because this image of mine, which has been created by the movies or the characters I play or by the media, is something that I don't own."

He further explained, "It's owned by the public, it's owned by people who like my work or dislike my work, and they are allowed to say anything about me, as long as they give my work a chance. As long as I can prove to them as an actor, and that has always been my focus - to act."

Addressing the topic of being labelled 'toxic,' Ranbir said, "Recently, I was reading some article about being toxic and something relating to some statement I made, and I understand this. I am on the side of the people who are fighting against toxic masculinity. If they use me as the face of it, it's fine because their fight is bigger than just me feeling sad about them having an opinion about what I said. I look at the larger picture."

This statement by Ranbir Kapoor came after a recent social media controversy involving him and his partner, Alia Bhatt.

Alia revealed in a Vogue India video that she tries to keep her lipstick faded and minimal because her husband, Ranbir, prefers the natural colour of her lips. She added that he often asks her to wipe off the lipstick. While Alia intended it as a sweet anecdote about their relationship, some social media users interpreted it differently, leading to criticism of Ranbir.

On the professional front, Ranbir Kapoor's upcoming film "Animal," an action thriller, is set to release on December 1. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the movie also stars Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles.