The portrayal of love, relationships, and personal growth in mainstream media is often a reflection of the prevailing societal norms and expectations. As entertainment continues to evolve, different forms of fantasy content—tailored to either male or female audiences—have emerged. Two recent examples of this are Four More Shots Please, an Amazon Prime series, and Kabir Singh, a Bollywood film. While both works showcase themes of love, desire, and ambition, they cater to different forms of escapism, with Four More Shots Please appealing to female fantasies and Kabir Singh embodying the male fantasy.
The Rise of Four More Shots Please: Empowerment and Feminine Fantasy
Four More Shots Please revolves around the lives of four women navigating relationships, careers, and self-discovery in the bustling city of Mumbai. The series presents an unapologetically bold, modern portrayal of women in their 30s—each one balancing love, work, friendships, and societal expectations. It is often hailed as India’s answer to Sex and the City, reflecting a shift in the kinds of stories being told about women in Indian media.
Empowerment Through Sexuality and Independence
One of the key aspects of Four More Shots Please is its treatment of female sexuality and independence. The four lead characters—Damini, Anjana, Umang, and Siddhi—are unapologetically themselves, embracing their desires and choices without shame. This unfiltered representation of women in control of their lives and bodies has been celebrated by many, especially younger women seeking stories that resonate with their own experiences.
The character of Damini, for instance, is a successful journalist who juggles her career with romantic relationships. Her portrayal reflects the evolving ideals of women today: independent, career-focused, and sexually liberated. The series gives its characters the freedom to explore love, heartbreak, and everything in between, without adhering to traditional norms that often dictate a woman’s life choices.
The Fantasy of Friendship and Sisterhood
Another key element of the show is its focus on the friendship between the four women. In a society where female relationships are often portrayed as competitive or antagonistic, Four More Shots Please offers a refreshing depiction of supportive sisterhood. This fantasy of a close-knit, loyal group of friends who uplift and encourage each other is appealing, especially in a world where women often find themselves isolated or judged for their choices.
The series paints a picture of female camaraderie, where the characters can be vulnerable, honest, and supportive without judgment. This creates a sense of belonging and solidarity that many women fantasize about—being able to express their emotions freely in a safe space and forging relationships that are built on mutual respect and love.
Breaking Stereotypes
The show also challenges societal norms and stereotypes about women. For example, the character of Umang is a bisexual woman who is openly navigating her sexual identity. Her journey reflects the growing acceptance of diverse sexual orientations in modern media and provides a platform for discussions around LGBTQ+ issues. By introducing diverse and complex female characters, Four More Shots Please appeals to viewers who crave stories that don’t just fit into traditional roles but explore the nuances of identity and personal growth.
Ultimately, Four More Shots Please caters to a female fantasy of self-discovery, independence, and freedom of choice. Its characters represent women who are not only in control of their own lives but also unafraid to embrace their desires, flaws, and vulnerabilities.
Kabir Singh: The Male Fantasy of Passion, Destruction, and Redemption
On the other side of the spectrum lies Kabir Singh, a film that sparked intense debate upon its release. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Shahid Kapoor in the titular role, Kabir Singh tells the story of a brilliant but troubled surgeon who descends into a spiral of self-destruction after the woman he loves marries someone else. The film portrays a hyper-masculine ideal that romanticizes toxic behavior, excessive passion, and a seemingly redemptive arc.
The Fantasy of Obsessive Love
At the core of Kabir Singh lies the concept of obsessive, all-consuming love. Kabir’s character is driven by an intense, unrelenting passion for Preeti, a woman he believes he “owns.” His love for her is portrayed as a form of uncontrollable desire, where boundaries and consent are frequently blurred. This is a classic representation of the male fantasy of possessing the woman they love and having their desires fulfilled, no matter the cost.
Kabir’s actions throughout the film—his anger, jealousy, and refusal to move on—are romanticized as the byproducts of his “true love” for Preeti. This portrayal feeds into the fantasy that such obsessive behavior is a sign of deep, authentic passion. His arc, which follows his eventual redemption after a self-destructive journey, implies that despite all his flaws and damaging actions, he deserves a second chance at love.
Masculinity and Power
Kabir Singh is a hyper-masculine character, embodying qualities often associated with traditional male fantasies: aggression, dominance, and control. His swagger, his temper, and his sexual conquests are all portrayed as symbols of his masculinity. This reflects a larger societal trend where male characters are often celebrated for their “bad boy” qualities—rough around the edges but still somehow deserving of love and admiration.
The fantasy of power, in both personal and professional spheres, is central to Kabir’s character. He is a brilliant surgeon, yet his personal life is in shambles. Despite this, he remains a desirable figure for women and commands respect from his peers. This type of portrayal is common in male fantasy content, where the protagonist may be flawed and morally ambiguous, but his power and talent ultimately make him worthy of admiration.
The Destructive Nature of Passion
In Kabir Singh, love is not just about romance; it is a destructive force. Kabir’s entire life is defined by the volatility of his emotions. His extreme highs and lows mirror the chaos he creates around him, particularly in his relationships. This serves as a form of escapism for male audiences who fantasize about experiencing life with such intense emotion and unrestrained passion.
The film does not shy away from the darker side of Kabir’s character, yet it attempts to present these traits as signs of his tortured soul, giving him an emotional depth that would lead to his eventual redemption. This gives viewers the fantasy of being able to destroy everything in one’s path, only to rebuild it stronger, often with the help of love or personal growth.
The Fantasized Redemption
At the end of Kabir Singh, the character goes through a transformation, seemingly learning from his past mistakes. This redemption arc is a crucial part of the male fantasy, as it allows the protagonist to shed his flaws and emerge as a hero despite his previous misdeeds. The idea that a man can be saved from his darker impulses by the love of a woman—and by his own actions—is a central theme in many male-driven narratives.
This arc represents a fantasy of rebirth, where personal flaws are forgiven, and the character is allowed to start anew. It feeds into the narrative that men, regardless of their actions, can redeem themselves and still be seen as worthy of love, respect, and admiration.
The Contrast Between Female and Male Fantasy Content
While Four More Shots Please and Kabir Singh are both centered around love, relationships, and personal growth, they differ greatly in the type of fantasies they explore. Four More Shots Please offers a vision of empowerment, independence, and sisterhood, where women are free to explore their desires and identities without fear of judgment. In contrast, Kabir Singh taps into the male fantasy of passion, power, and redemption, where destructive behavior is seen as part of an intense and tumultuous love story.
These contrasting portrayals reflect the different ways in which society has traditionally shaped fantasies around gender. Female fantasies in media have often been associated with themes of self-discovery and independence, while male fantasies have focused on power, control, and passionate love that can be both destructive and redemptive.
Conclusion: Escapism in Its Many Forms
Both Four More Shots Please and Kabir Singh are prime examples of how media reflects the fantasies of their respective audiences. While Four More Shots Please challenges societal expectations and explores the diverse dimensions of female identity, Kabir Singh romanticizes the darker aspects of male desire and behavior. These narratives offer an escape from reality—one where viewers can indulge in their deepest wishes and dreams. In a world increasingly defined by complex identities and relationships, these works demonstrate the power of storytelling in shaping, reflecting, and sometimes distorting our collective fantasies.
