Shaurya Director Samar Khan On Viral Kay Kay Menon Clip: 'Like Calling Gabbar A Hero'

News18

06-06-2025

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Shaurya director Samar Khan says the viral scene featuring Kay Kay Menon is misunderstood and compares it to calling Gabbar Singh from Sholay a hero.
Filmmaker Samar Khan, known for acclaimed web series like The Test Case and Avrodh, is returning with a brand-new murder mystery, Chhal Kapat – The Deception, set to premiere on ZEE5 on June 6. But while he readies for this gripping new chapter, the shadow of his most iconic work as a director—Shaurya (2008)—continues to follow him in the digital age.
Shaurya, a courtroom drama starring Rahul Bose, Kay Kay Menon, Minissha Lamba, Deepak Dobriyal, and Jaaved Jaaferi, was India's response to A Few Good Men. Much like Jack Nicholson's unforgettable 'You can't handle the truth" moment, Shaurya featured a fiery monologue by Kay Kay Menon's Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh in the climax. But while the scene was meant to expose unchecked authority, social media has since spun it into something else entirely—celebrating Rudra as a misunderstood hero.
In a candid chat with Hindustan Times, Khan addressed how the film's meaning has been distorted online. 'I have outgrown Shaurya many years ago," he said. 'I'm still proud of the film, but what people make of it is out of my control. People ask me about it on Twitter and other platforms, but I never respond. Anything I say would be taken out of context."
He admitted that the viral resurgence of Rudra's monologue troubles him, not because it's being talked about—but because it's being misunderstood. 'Unfortunately, many of those who share that scene haven't watched the scenes before or after. It's like isolating Gabbar Singh from Sholay and calling him a hero. Villains often come off as more attractive. Even with someone like Shah Rukh Khan, who's done countless romantic roles, people still remember him for Darr or Baazigar. As creators, we have to detach ourselves from how our work is received or reinterpreted," he explained.
Khan also weighed in on social media's role in amplifying out-of-context moments. 'It's all about clickbait and short attention spans now. That's how people engage—quick clips, loud monologues, and controversy."
As Shaurya continues to provoke debate years after its release, Khan is focused on his next project. Chhal Kapat – The Deception is a murder mystery led by Shriya Pilgaonkar and directed by Ajay Bhuyan. The series also stars Kamya Ahlawat, Ragini Dwivedi, Tuhina Das, Yahhve Sharma, Pranay Pachauri, Smaran Sahu, and Anuj Sachdeva.
With Chhal Kapat, Khan steps into darker, twistier territory—this time hoping that the audience sticks around for the full story, not just a viral slice.
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