Even as he is grateful that the trailer of Thappad has sparked a much-needed conversation on violence against women, Pavail Gulati insists that the film is not about domestic violence. "It is about the relationship between a man and woman, their egos and their life," informs the actor, who plays Taapsee Pannu's husband in the drama.

Through its protagonist who seeks divorce after her husband slaps her, the Anubhav Sinha film argues that casual violence has no place in society. Oddly enough, a section of netizens felt that the film had a male-bashing tone. "Initially, I thought it will be a male-bashing film. But my perspective changed after reading the script. It has perspectives of both [partners]," he says.

Mention to him that the film is being viewed as an antithesis to Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Kabir Singh, and Gulati shares that Sinha developed the story way before the Shahid Kapoor starrer. "He narrated the story to Taapsee on a flight, after which Mrunmayee Lagoo and he developed it. [Kabir Singh reflects] the [makers'] way of thinking. I can't comment on that. But Thappad is not an answer to Kabir Singh."

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