Actor Neeraj Kabi says Gandhian values remain relevant, while violence in films should serve a larger artistic or narrative purpose. In a Hindustan Times interview published on 2 October 2026 for Gandhi Jayanti, he described screen violence as “the drug” supplied through cinema—but stressed that he is not against depicting violence categorically.
What Neeraj Kabi said about violence in films
Speaking with Hindustan Times reporter Akash Bhatnagar, Kabi argued that violence should not be used merely for its own appeal. In his view, it should contribute to something larger in the story and reflect an artist’s higher sensibility. He pointed to Schindler’s List as an example of violence serving a larger story.
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“Violence has become the drug, and we are supplying that drug through cinema,” Kabi said. The line is a forceful metaphor for his concern about the way violence is presented, not a finding from an audience study. The interview supplies no data establishing that viewers are becoming more accepting of violence or that films are causing changes in public behaviour.
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Why Gandhi remains relevant to Kabi
Kabi associated Gandhi’s example with six qualities: ahimsa, or non-violence; satyagrah; sacrifice; leadership; humanity; and equality. This is Kabi’s own account of the values he sees as important, rather than a formal or universally accepted classification of Gandhian thought.
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He also pointed to student protests over NEET paper leaks as an example of young people pursuing change largely through non-violence. That example is presented as Kabi’s account in the interview, not as a separately verified assessment of the protests.
How to understand the interview’s claims
Kabi’s comments combine a personal artistic standard with a broader criticism of cinema and public sensibility. His standard is specific: violence can belong in a film when it serves the story or a larger purpose. His claim that public sensibility is declining, and his characterization of cinema as supplying a “drug,” are opinions expressed in the interview; the article does not provide industry-wide evidence to verify them.
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Kabi has previously portrayed Gandhi in Samvidhaan. An Indian Express profile published in 2013 reported that he practised spinning on a charkha while trying to understand Gandhian philosophy. That biographical experience offers context for his remarks, but does not independently establish claims about film audiences or screen violence.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A companion Hindustan Times Gandhi Jayanti feature includes reflections from Pratik Gandhi, Rajit Kapur and Darshan Jariwalla on Gandhi’s relevance. It offers a broader cultural setting for the occasion, rather than independent evidence about violence in films.
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