Netflix’s film ‘Wild Wild Punjab’ released earlier this week and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. A section of the audience called it gender-biased and many reviews said that the film forcefully portrays women as villains. In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, director Simarpreet Singh addressed the same criticism and said that he did not mean it that way. He also talked about centering his film around the idea ‘I am over you’.

The director said that the characters in his film treat people the way they should be treated, irrespective of their gender. Citing a dialogue from the film, he highlighted how the film does not generalise women but talks about a specific class of people who cheat and hurt their partners. “When I look at my characters, I look at people, not their gender. That’s why a lot of conscious efforts have been made to not generalise women,” he said.

He cited a scene to prove his story. The director said, “In one scene Sunny (Singh) says ‘Rejection from such girls is unbearable. He is not saying that ‘rejection from girls is unbearable.’‘.You have to understand that there are eight billion people in the world and not everyone is the same. You can’t treat everyone the same. So, for me, it was very important to say:’such girls‘ – so that you can look at that bracket and not see them all as shortcomings.”

It is important for Simarpreet that her characters are respectful towards both women and men, but only towards those who deserve respect. sister in law (As Bhabhi, Patralekha Radha) The beating up of all the other men in the car is also something that is very well portrayed in the film. That’s the idea because I think You can’t stop everyone from thinking something, you can express your opinion. And every kind of thing is available “You can’t stop everybody from thinking a certain way. You can only express yourself. And there are all kinds of people and things in society,” he said.

The director has previously made several series and movies like ‘Half Love Half Arranged’, ‘College Romance’ and ‘Stags’. Addressing those who think ‘Wild Wild Punjab’ is misogynistic in nature, he said, “Every personality has its own flavour.”

Simarpreet said,It may seem sexist to people but that is not the intention. Every character talks respectfully to those he wants to talk to, whether they are men or women. (You might think this is gender discrimination, but that is not our intention. Every character in the film speaks with respect to everyone who deserves the respect, regardless of their gender).”

Starring Sunny Singh, Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh and Jassie Gill, ‘Wild Wild Punjab’ is essentially a road-movie. It follows a man’s journey from Patiala to Pathankot, where he tells his ex-girlfriend ‘I am over you’. The heartbroken man is encouraged by his male friends to sneak into his ex-girlfriend’s wedding, look her in the eyes and tell her that he has moved on in life. Simarpreet said the whole idea was inspired by her friends’ personal life experiences. “It’s very difficult for anyone to get over that regret and grief. The idea of ​​’Mai Tumse Door Ho Gaya Hu’ basically came out of that friendship. The film is about these four friends who know each other very well, who make fun of each other and tease each other, but love each other very much even amidst this chaos. ‘Mai Tumse Door Ho Gaya Hu’ only mattered to Khanna, but Khanna mattered to everyone else. I have seen friends heartbroken, caught in limbo and running after their exes,” he revealed.

‘Wild Wild Punjab’ is currently streaming on Netflix.