Despite the mixed criticism that Ranbir Kapoor received for his 2023 blockbuster Animal, the film’s impressive box office performance silenced much of the negativity. As one of the top worldwide grossers for Bollywood that year, Animal cemented Ranbir’s place as a bona fide ‘superstar,’ with his performance and the film’s themes at the heart of the debate. While director Sandeep Reddy Vanga went to great lengths defending the film and its predominantly misogynistic concepts, Ranbir, in contrast, adopted a more measured response.
The film’s climactic moments were further amplified by the surprise teaser for its sequel, Animal Park, embedded in the final cut — an Easter egg that excited many, including Ranbir himself. But if this twist wasn’t enough, the actor recently revealed even more thrilling news for fans of the Animal franchise. In a candid interview, Ranbir confirmed that the Animal saga will be a trilogy, with the first film merely scratching the surface of the full vision.
He shared that the initial instalment was just the filmmakers “flirting” with the true potential of the series, which greatly excites him as an actor, especially given that he has the opportunity to play both the protagonist and antagonist across the three films. However, fans may have to wait a while for the next chapter, as both Ranbir and Vanga are busy with other professional commitments. The projected start date for Animal 2 is set for 2027, meaning that fans who thought Animal was an intense ride might need to buckle up.
Reactions to this announcement have been mixed, with some fans expressing fatigue over the growing trend of franchise-heavy storytelling. Comments on social media included: “Done with this trilogy & series thing.” while others lamented, “Don’t forget to write the story, unlike first one.” There was also a certain level of scepticism, with one comment reading, “so if one succeeds that means all will succeed then!” and another stating, “Milking it heavy.”
Some fans have drawn comparisons between Animal’s strategy and the ongoing success of Pushpa 2. Despite personal challenges, Allu Arjun’s film continues to dominate, with recent leaks hinting that Pushpa 3: The Rampage is in the works. This has led to speculation about whether Animal’s trilogy was always part of the plan, or if it was birthed from the film’s undeniable success.
Regardless of the public debate, Ranbir seems genuinely excited about the future of the franchise, calling it “an extremely exciting project” and praising Vanga as “an extremely original director.” As the face of one of Bollywood’s most controversial films in recent times, it’s clear that Ranbir is ready to take Animal to the next level — even if not all fans are on board for the ride.