November 13, 2024: Actor Abhay Deol recently shared his thoughts on the unintended impact of Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D, where he portrayed the modernised, troubled protagonist Dev. Although the film, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Devdas, was initially intended to critique toxic masculinity and empower female characters, Deol believes it inadvertently ended up glamourising substance abuse.
In an interview with Filmfare, Abhay Deol opened up about how Dev D was supposed to be a commentary on male toxicity and redemption. He revealed, “The idea behind Dev D was to call out Dev’s toxic masculinity and empower the women in his life.” He had envisioned an ending true to the original novel’s tragic spirit, where his character faces consequences instead of embracing a reckless lifestyle. However, the film’s portrayal of Dev’s wild lifestyle led to a different impact.
Reflecting on how the film was received, Abhay admitted, “Eventually, the film kind of became cool, and people saw that and wanted to do more drugs and alcohol. That was not the point. I’ve had friends tell me their nephews thought ecstasy was cool because of it, and even a friend who downed an entire bottle of vodka.”
Released in 2009, Dev D was a groundbreaking take on the classic Devdas tale, with Kalki Koechlin and Mahie Gill in pivotal roles. Despite its critical success, Abhay’s reflections reveal a complex relationship between art and its social impact, especially when it comes to depicting themes of substance abuse and self-destruction.
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