Actor Adil Hussain has reiterated his criticism of filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s films, saying that financial security has given him the freedom to decline projects that do not align with his personal beliefs. Reaffirming his earlier regret over being part of Kabir Singh, Adil said that no amount of money, including an offer as high as Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore, would convince him to act in a film like Animal.The actor portrayed the dean of a medical college in the 2019 hit starring Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani. Looking back, he revealed that Kabir Singh remains the only project he accepted without reading the entire script beforehand.In an interview with Screen, Adil said he feels privileged to have consistently received acting opportunities across different film industries, languages and countries. That steady stream of work, he explained, has allowed him to reject commercially rewarding projects if he is uncomfortable with their themes or ideological messaging.“I’m one of the luckiest actors who’ve been offered roles from different parts of the country and the world. And from the mainstream genre as well,” he said. Adil is next set to feature in Netflix’s war drama Operation Safed Sagar, which he described as one of the streaming platform’s costliest Indian productions. He will also be seen in Musafir Cafe, starring and produced by Vikrant Massey.The actor said these mainstream ventures have paid him well enough to continue pursuing smaller, independent films that offer greater artistic fulfilment despite generating modest financial returns. According to him, the income from larger projects often helps him “subsidise” his work in independent cinema. His upcoming releases begin with Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy’s slice-of-life indie Max, Min & Meowzaki, which is scheduled to hit theatres on July 24. Musafir Cafe is also slated for release on the same day, while Operation Safed Sagar, where he essays the role of Air Marshal Vinod Patney, will premiere on Netflix on August 7.Adil acknowledged that being “paid very well” is a relative term and noted that he may still earn significantly less than many mainstream stars. Even so, he said he has built a life that allows him to remain financially secure without feeling pressured to accept every acting offer.The actor has previously criticised Kabir Singh, describing it as misogynistic and accusing it of glorifying violence. He revealed that he stopped watching the film after about 20 minutes and said he would have been embarrassed if his wife had seen it. He has also stated that he would reject Animal even if he were offered Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore. In response, Sandeep Reddy Vanga accused Adil of placing money above passion and argued that Kabir Singh had contributed more to the actor’s career than his independent films.Adil later hit back by highlighting his collaborations with internationally acclaimed filmmakers, including Mira Nair and Ang Lee.
