Imran Khan questions ‘angry hero’ trend, says he has no interest in ‘playing a hairy man covered in blood’

At a time when action-heavy, hyper-masculine protagonists are dominating the big screen, Imran Khan has made it clear he isn’t looking to join that wave.During a recent Reddit AMA, the actor addressed a fan’s suggestion about avoiding “macho roles” and responded with a remark that quickly caught attention. “I have no interest in playing a hairy angry man covered in blood,” he said, adding that such characters are already “generously represented” in today’s cinema.While he refrained from naming any film, the comment comes amid the success of large-scale action entertainers like Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Ranbir Kapoor's Animal, sparking online chatter about what his statement may be referencing.Imran also used the interaction to speak about the changing nature of film narratives, particularly the portrayal of violence.“There’s a significant difference between portraying violence and validating it,” he wrote, adding that he finds the current trend “disturbing”.According to him, being part of stories that appear to endorse aggression does not align with his sensibilities, which is why he chooses to stay away from such narratives. The AMA also marked a rare candid interaction from the actor, who has largely stayed away from the spotlight since his last release in 2015.Reintroducing himself with humour, Imran referred to himself as “the guy” from his earlier films who “ghosted everyone”, inviting fans to revisit his journey and choices.He first gained popularity with Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, a film that continues to define his on-screen image even today. Imran is now preparing for his comeback with Adhure Hum Adhure Tum, co-starring Bhumi Pednekar.Sharing a glimpse into the film’s tone, he said it focuses on themes like empathy, kindness and responsibility — areas he feels are “under-represented” in mainstream storytelling.The film is currently in post-production and is expected to release later this year on a streaming platform, with an official date yet to be announced.