Housefull 5 Director Defends Film Against Objectification Claims; Says Male Cast Also Exposed

Housefull 5 director Tarun Mansukhani has responded to criticism about the film’s portrayal of women, arguing that the movie does not reflect his personal views. The comedy thriller, starring Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh, has been accused of objectifying female characters through suggestive jokes and revealing costumes. However, Mansukhani insists the film also features male actors in revealing scenes.

The movie has been a box office success, crossing ₹200 crore globally. Yet, it has faced backlash for its treatment of female characters, with critics calling out scenes involving cleavage-focused jokes and sexual innuendos. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) gave it a U/A rating, allowing family viewing with parental guidance, while films like OMG 2, which discussed sex education, received an ‘A’ certificate.

In an interview, Mansukhani defended the film, saying flawed characters do not represent the director’s beliefs. He pointed out that male actors like Dino Morea and the lead trio also had revealing scenes.

“Every film, every frame of the character, is not the reflection of the director’s life. The character is flawed, sure, but why can’t he be flawed? Why can’t he be misogynistic or sexist? That is who he is. A lot of people have told me a lot of things about girls being objectified. Dino Morea is shirtless all the time. Nobody says anything. My three lead boys are showing their butt. Cheeky, isn’t it? But nobody says anything. It is as you wish to see it, and it is fine.”

The director also expressed frustration over critics focusing on content rather than filmmaking techniques. He believes the industry is struggling, and negative reviews harm it further.

“I wish they would criticise technique, my storytelling. I wish they criticised other departments they are meant to criticise. Right now, it seems more critical opinions come on a personal basis. I have a problem with people who turn around and say, ‘Oh, don’t watch this film’. Our industry is already going through turbulent times, don’t find ways to make it worse.”

Housefull 5 follows three men claiming to be heirs to a billionaire’s fortune aboard a cruise ship. The film features an ensemble cast, including Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, and Sonam Bajwa. Despite mixed reviews, it has performed well at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2025.

The movie’s U/A certification has sparked debate, with some arguing that its adult humor makes it unsuitable for younger audiences. Critics have highlighted scenes where female characters are sexualized, including one where a lawyer’s cleavage is emphasized through repeated jokes.

“The discomfort starts early: a female lawyer enters in a highly sexualised manner with Ranjeet’s will, sits provocatively, and becomes the target of a crass joke where the character of Shreyas Talpade uses rolled-up paper as binoculars as she crosses her legs. Some chuckled, others looked on, squirming in their seats.”

Despite the controversy, the film continues to draw crowds, with many calling it a “mass entertainer.” However, some viewers have criticized its reliance on outdated humor.

“Vulgar jokes which never land and too many actors and actresses being introduced in the whole movie. Don’t watch it with family and I would suggest don’t even watch it. Kind of predictable movie with same childish jokes.”

“Movie is purely based on cleavage and somewhat dark comedy but its a pure waste of time. The movie is full of cringy and bad jokes and if you are thinking of watching it give yourself a favor watch old cricket matches but not this movie.”

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Housefull 5 is the fifth installment in the franchise and was shot on a luxury cruise ship across multiple international locations. The film had a reported budget of ₹240 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian comedies.

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