Radhika Apte doesn’t want to bring up kids in a society where violence sells as entertainment: ‘I just cannot deal with it’

Radhika Apte finds herself “deeply disturbed” by the surge of violence and gore dominating Indian screens, arguing that the industry’s accelerating appetite for brutality has begun to eclipse meaningful storytelling. “I feel quite disturbed, and I have to say this openly. I’m deeply disturbed by the violence at the moment that is selling as entertainment. I don’t want to be bringing up a child in a world where that’s entertainment. I just cannot deal with it,” the Saali Mohabbat actor told The Hollywood Reporter India in a recent interview.

Apte further added, “If I want to tell a story of a man who chopped people, I don’t need to see the chopping and the horrible things they are doing to the person. That’s not storytelling. I have not seen it ever. The effect of this on society is so large and I find it deeply upsetting that that’s what’s selling.”

Srishti Vatsa, counselling psychologist, described violent and gore films as being made for the sole purpose of provoking emotions such as tension, fear, stress, and shock. “This releases hormones in the body such as cortisol, and adrenaline resulting in increased heart rate, and muscle tension. Those who find such movies enjoyable would just compare the movie to a roller coaster ride i.e. just an adrenaline rush,” she said.

She explained how even though our brains know the threats on screen are fictional, our bodies react as if they’re real. “For people with existing anxiety, their stress response might misinterpret the on-screen dangers as real threats. The long-term consequences of exposure to gore can be a little concerning,” she added.

Children can develop anxiety issues and fears like that of the dark or being alone. (Source: Instagram/@radhikaofficial)

“Watching gore content can activate the amygdala and release stress hormones in the body. Amygdala is a part of the brain, which regulates emotions. Exposure to violence and gore can trigger responses like fear, anxiety, aggression and even depression,” shared Juhi Pandey, Psychologist, Mpower, adding that some feel the effect immediately after watching such content, characterised by restlessness and anxiety.

Vatsa believes repeated exposure to violent scenes can lead to the development of new phobias. “We all know that there is an entire generation of adults who are traumatised by the movies like Final Destination and cannot drive behind a truck carrying logs or iron bars,” she said.

Children and teenagers are more prone to get affected by gore than adults, thus it becomes important to be mindful of the impact of such content and seek help if needed, said Pandey, while Vatsa added that children are extremely vulnerable, as their brains are still developing the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality. Thus, exposure to violence in children can cause lasting emotional distress and hinder their growth.

“Usually in households where TV consumption is a joint activity, even if the parents are fond of watching horror, they will have to be cognizant that this distress can impact the child in the long term, and not assume that the child doesn’t understand anything,” she said.

She further explained that children can develop anxiety issues and fears like that of the dark or being alone. “Research has also proven that exposure to violent audiovisuals can desensitize children to violence and make them more prone to aggressive behavior.”

To watch safely, Vatsa says that is important to monitor how horror movies are making you feel. “Notice how you feel the following day and the impact on sleep. Know what you can tolerate, decide and set limits to what you are willing to tolerate,” she said.

She also encouraged people to recognise whether they are watching the movie out of peer pressure and choose to give importance to your mental well-being. “It is also important to assess your current state of emotions and be mindful not to get into binge-watching,” she said.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.