9 characters who taught us who to steer clear of in the dating pool!

While we have our favourite romantic characters who we hold close to our hearts to date, there have also been some rather problematic ones that left us stumped and how! So here's for the ones who taught us to identify the red flags around us!

Hindi cinema is guilty of glorifying problematic characters as the epitome of romance at times without realising the impact that it can have on audiences, especially the young adults who watch these films in abundance. They are written in such a way that they blur the lines between charming and alarming! While at first we may be drawn to their charisma or intensity, most of these characters exhibit glaring red flags that should send us running for the hills. From the obsessive and possessive Safeena from 'Gully Boy' to the volatile and entitled Ranvijay in 'Animal,' these characters often romanticise toxic behaviours, but more than anything, they're a walking example of who not to fall in love with! Since cinema today is looked at as a tool for life lessons that we can take away, maybe these characters could be our masterclass at recognising behaviours that aren't healthy to have in a relationship!

Also Read: 10 love stories that made us question everything about love!

So here's our very own red flag club!

Ranvijay Singh- Animal

Since we're talking about red flags, we have to start with Ranvijay Singh from Animal. When he gets angry, he literally sees red, and that in itself is enough to be away from someone like him! On top of that,  Ranvijay shames Geetanjali for complaining when she is on her period and explains to her why she should marry an "alpha male" like him. While he seems rather exaggerated, he actually is as real as it gets in today's world. You'd be surprised to see the number of men who are oblivious to things like menstruation and just objectify women like there's no tomorrow! Ranvijay isn't someone who should be celebrated, he is what every woman should be afraid of, IMO!

Mahendra- Mr. and Mrs Mahi 

Mahendra is someone who thinks he’s a brilliant cricket player, but his performance and coach say otherwise. This movie is a pretend rom-com but actually is the story of a toxic relationship where a man who is irresponsible, ungrateful, and has never had a real job asks his doctor wife to leave her job and play cricket, not because she’s good at it but because he wants to become a famous coach. He loses his mind when his wife gets recognised more and even dares to throw a cricket ball at her in anger. He thrives on pity and makes everything about himself a complete fiasco to be with, which is exactly the kind of red flag one should run away from. Because if he cannot be happy with your success, he isn't worth it at all!

Sweety- Sonu ke Titu ki Sweety

Sweety was controlling, manipulative, and selfish! She always wore a mask in front of others, carefully crafting a persona that allowed her to get things done her way. With this façade, she maintained control over situations. Even before officially becoming part of the family, she began imposing her own rules. Throughout the story, she gradually isolates Titu, even from his best friend, Sonu, in the name of love, and she makes sure she does not lose her authority over him. She taught all of us to introspect the line between genuine concern and toxic control!

Kundan- Ranjhana 

Kundan was a major red flag. I am not sure how the movie ever thought of romanticising him as a 'lover'. He literally harassed Zoya, stalked her, and threatened to suicide if she didn’t love him back. He even assaulted her quite casually, all because she loved someone else. To win her, he cuts his wrist and tries to stop her wedding by ratting her lover out. Stalking definitely isn't something that's romantic in fact, it's rather scary IRL! And it's high time we stop portraying such characters on-screen and sell it to the audience as a 'romantic' character!

Kabir singh- Kabir Singh

Kabir Singh and Animal are two films that would be put in the same 'stay away from these characters' genre. There's no surprise that the same person made both films, and it actually makes us dig deep into how most Indian men think around us. In the name of romance, Kabir abuses Preeti and her family quite a lot of times. He tries to make her a 'woman' by kissing her without asking her consent, and also, just because he likes Preeti, he expects her to be his girlfriend. She does not have a say in anything at all. Characters like these are so triggering, as this would hit close to home for a lot of women watching. Hence, not only is this a lesson on how to make such films with sensitivity, but it also makes us question the difference between love and gaslighting!

Rahul- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Rahul was a clear no-go from the start. While the film is loved popularly for its nostalgic factor and the songs today, many women who once loved Rahul have learnt better today! They know he can't be anyone's ideal type because no one would want to be with a man whose feelings change according to one's outer appearance and who looks more 'feminine' to him. It's good that Rahul exists in the early 2000s because if he was a guy from today, he would be cancelled for sure!

Manav Sangha- Dil Dhadkne Do

Manav was as controlling and manipulative as one can get. He only cares about what his mother has to say and ignores Ayesha’s opinions constantly. He didn’t care about her aspirations and desires, all he truly cared about was wanting a kid. He didn’t even care to check if she wanted the same thing. The scene where Sunny (Farhan Akhtar) emphasized how Manav “allowed” his wife to work only makes him an authoritative figure and not a good husband. Remember, ladies, you aren't just someone's baby machine; you have a life of your own, too! 

Gautam Kapoor- Cocktail

Gautam is a problematic man who is all for having fun and dating women who have a non-traditional idea of a good time but will only eventually marry the kind of 'pious' woman his mother approves of- that's literally every Indian man ever! Men like him should be as outdated as DVD players are today!

Safeena- Gully Boy

Safeena's obsession and possessiveness towards her boyfriend cannot be excused as love. It's concerning when someone acts impulsively, as she did when breaking a beer bottle over a girl's head based solely on speculations. What’s even more alarming is that she never took accountability for her actions. Despite Murad's affair, she forgave him without addressing the deeper issues, and their conversation lacked any real depth or resolution. This highlights the danger of being in a relationship with someone who is insecure and unable to engage in mature, constructive communication, which is an issue that's relevant today more than ever!

Are there any other red flag characters you'd add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

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