As Housefull 5 continues to spark debate online, Chitrangada Singh has finally addressed the criticism surrounding the film’s humour — particularly allegations that it objectifies women in the name of comedy. Speaking candidly in a recent interview, the actor offered a balanced take, stressing that audience perception often depends on how a scene lands, not just what it shows.
“Comedy Is Always About Execution”
Chitrangada acknowledged that the Housefull franchise has a very specific brand of humour, one that leans heavily on physical comedy. According to her, actors usually have limited control over how scenes are ultimately staged or presented on screen.
She admitted that certain moments involving physical humour and women can feel uncomfortable, but added that such comedy tends to attract criticism only when it doesn’t work. When it does land, audiences are far more accepting.
In her view, the reaction often becomes harsher when humour misses the mark — turning scrutiny into judgment.
Drawing a Parallel With Dhurandhar
To explain her point, Chitrangada drew a comparison with Dhurandhar, the Ranveer Singh-led spy thriller that also faced criticism — this time for its depiction of violence.
She explained that some viewers chose to see Dhurandhar purely as a violent film, while others understood that the violence was part of the storytelling. Similarly, she believes that slapstick-heavy comedies like Housefull 5 follow a particular narrative grammar that won’t appeal to everyone.
Her point was simple: every genre has its own cinematic language, and not all films are meant to be consumed the same way.
Her Personal Take on Films Like Housefull 5
While defending the idea of genre-based storytelling, Chitrangada didn’t shy away from expressing her own discomfort as a viewer. She admitted that she wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable watching certain scenes and would have preferred if some moments were handled differently.
At the same time, she cautioned against becoming overly moralistic, saying audiences sometimes turn “over-judgmental” instead of allowing films a bit of cinematic leeway.
Ultimately, she believes it’s up to viewers to decide what they watch, agree with, or reject — without turning every debate into a blanket condemnation.
About Housefull 5
Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, Housefull 5 is a whodunit comedy set aboard a luxury cruise, revolving around multiple impostors claiming to be the son of a deceased billionaire to inherit his fortune.
The ensemble cast includes Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Shreyas Talpade, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, along with Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, and Soundarya Sharma.
Made on a reported budget of ₹240 crore, the film went on to collect ₹288.58 crore worldwide, delivering a modest box office outcome compared to expectations.
Where Dhurandhar Stands
Interestingly, Chitrangada’s comparison film, Dhurandhar, saw a very different fate. Despite mixed critical reception, strong audience word-of-mouth pushed the Aditya Dhar-directed spy thriller past the ₹1000 crore mark worldwide. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt, with Part 2 scheduled for March 2026.
Final Words
Chitrangada Singh’s comments land in a grey zone — neither dismissing criticism nor fully defending it. Instead, she highlights a larger truth about cinema: context, genre, and execution shape how stories are received.
Whether Housefull 5 works or doesn’t ultimately comes down to individual taste. But as Chitrangada suggests, sometimes films need to be judged for what they aim to be — not what we wish they were.
