Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the mastermind behind Animal and Kabir Singh, recently revealed that he seriously considered featuring Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir Singh as a cameo in Animal. However, after some thought, he ultimately scrapped the idea, fearing it would feel out of place in the intense storyline.
During an interview with Komal Nahta on Game Changers, Vanga was asked about a potential crossover where Ranbir Kapoor’s character is rushed to a hospital, only to be treated by Dr. Kabir Singh. He admitted that the idea struck him during the Delhi shoot of Animal and even sparked excitement among his crew, who believed it could be a brilliant commercial move. “The idea of having Kabir Singh as one of the chief doctors actually came to me during the Delhi shoot of Animal,” he shared.
While his team encouraged him to go ahead, Vanga eventually decided against it, explaining, “I didn’t want the cameo to look desperate.” He revealed that he was convinced about the idea for two days before ultimately letting it go. The reason? The intense emotional tone of the hospital scene in Animal, where doctors inform Ranbir Kapoor’s character about his organ failures. Bringing in a larger-than-life character like Kabir Singh, he felt, would disrupt the gravity of the moment. “If Kabir comes there, then it will be very light,” Vanga explained, emphasizing his focus on realism.
The director also addressed whether he ever considered casting Shahid Kapoor as the lead in Animal instead of Ranbir. However, he made it clear that the thought never crossed his mind. “Ranbir was the only one that struck me for this emotional story,” he said, calling it an ‘organic’ choice.
While the Kabir Singh-Animal crossover will remain a what-if scenario, Vanga’s revelation gives fans an exciting glimpse into the creative decisions that shaped the blockbuster. Do you think Kabir Singh should have made an appearance?
