Sandeep Reddy Vanga Almost Included Kabir Singh in Animal—Here’s Why It Didn’t Happen

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for Kabir Singh and Animal, recently revealed an interesting detail about his latest film. He admitted that he had considered featuring Shahid Kapoor’s iconic character, Kabir Singh, in Animal as a cameo. However, after much thought, he decided to scrap the idea, believing it wouldn’t fit the film’s intense tone.

In an interview with Komal Nahta on Game Changers, Vanga was asked if he ever thought about having Kabir Singh appear in Animal. Specifically, the question was about a scene where Ranbir Kapoor’s character is taken to a hospital and is treated by none other than Dr. Kabir Singh. Vanga acknowledged that he had, in fact, considered it. His team even encouraged the idea, thinking it would be a smart move commercially.

The idea of having Kabir Singh as one of the chief doctors actually came to me during the Delhi shoot of Animal.

- Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Vanga shared. His team was excited about the crossover, but he ultimately felt it would seem forced. “I didn’t want the cameo to look desperate," he said, adding that he was convinced for two days before deciding to drop it.

Vanga further explained that Animal had a serious and emotional tone, especially in the hospital scene where doctors inform Ranbir Kapoor’s character about his organ failures. Bringing in a dramatic and flamboyant character like Kabir Singh, he felt, would dilute the impact of the moment. “If Kabir comes there, then it will be very light,” Vanga stated, emphasizing his focus on realism in Animal.

The director also addressed whether he had ever considered casting Shahid Kapoor in Animal instead of Ranbir Kapoor. He firmly denied it. “Ranbir was the only one that struck me for this emotional story," he said, calling the casting choice an ‘organic’ decision.

While a crossover between Kabir Singh and Animal could have excited fans, Vanga’s decision to keep the film’s integrity intact shows his commitment to storytelling.