Kangana Ranaut: brave woman in Bollywood or ‘mad and psychotic’?
- The Indian film industry’s famous outsider has never been shy of controversy, but her latest tirades against fellow celebrities are on a whole new level
- Her outbursts, sparked by the suicide of fellow ‘outsider’ Sushant Singh Rajput and targeting perceived nepotism, have left public opinion divided
“Successful film makers … only promote their own and kill other upcoming talents and the ones who oppose their contracts are destroyed systematically,” she said in one recent tweet.
In another, she trained her fire on two film journalists, saying, “you always jump to whitewash the nepotism mafia but you both equally participate in the witch hunting of outsiders and open killing”.
The latest outbursts by Ranaut, a self-made actress and director who famously once accused the director Karan Johar of being the ‘flag-bearer of nepotism’, were triggered by the June 14 suicide of actor – and fellow ‘outsider’ Sushant Singh Rajput, 34. Rajput did not leave a suicide note but was known to have been depressed. Even so, his death came as a huge shock to the film fraternity and his fans.
Ranaut claims various Bollywood producers and stars for Rajput’s death, alleging they destroyed his career because he was an outsider who threatened their cosy little set-up and that powerful individuals spread rumours that he was a failure.
She made a video in which she called his death a “murder” planned by the “movie mafia” and not suicide. “Emotional, psychological, and mental lynching on an individual happens openly and we all are all guilty of watching it silently. Is blaming the system enough? Will there ever be change? Are we going to see a monumental shift in the narrative on how outsiders are treated?” she asked in the video.
In a television interview on Monday, she really let rip, accusing director Mahesh Bhatt of throwing a shoe at her when she refused a role in his film and questioned its premise.
Poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar was accused of telling her to apologise to actor Hritik Roshan after Ranaut’s affair with him ended. Ranaut alleges that Akhtar said that if she didn’t apologise, she would “end up committing suicide”.
Others, she said, had tried to discredit her by calling her “mad and psychotic”.
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Such behaviour is not exactly out of character for Ranaut, whose reputation as a maverick has not stopped her winning several awards. A small town girl, she struggled initially as an outsider who was mocked for her less than fluent English, but went on to establish herself with roles in commercially successful films such as ‘Queen’ and ‘Tanu Weds Manu’. She is also a fashion icon and regularly features on lists of powerful Indians.
Even so, her strong opinions, freely expressed, and a relationship with Roshan which turned highly rancorous after it ended, have often made her a controversial figure.
SILENCE OF THE HAMS
Most of the celebrities targeted by Ranaut’s latest outbursts have kept their silence, though relative newcomer Taapsee Pannu, whom Ranaut had called a “B-grade actress”, responded scathingly.
“I refuse to take advantage of someone’s death for personal vendetta, and make a mockery of the industry that gave me my bread and identity. I have had my share of struggles but just because I don’t glorify and deal with them with a positive outlook, it doesn’t make me any less of an ‘outsider’,” said Pannu.
Meanwhile, a former friend, the director Anurag Kashyap tweeted that he could not recognise “this new Kangana”.
“Intoxication of success and vigour destroys everyone equally, whether it is an insider or outsider ... it has come to the point that those who are not with her are all mean and sycophantic,” the director tweeted.
Public opinion has been divided. While many Indians have been appalled, pointing out that nepotism is a problem in all spheres of life, others have applauded her courage – not just for calling out the establishment over Rajput’s death but for demanding a level playing field for those who don’t bear a famous surname.
Former actress and television host Simi Garewal was among those tweeting her appreciation. “I applaud Kangana Ranaut, who is braver and bolder than I am. Only I know how a ‘powerful’ person has viciously tried to destroy my career. I stayed silent. Because I am not so brave.”
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But author and film buff Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jnr, who identifies as a Ranaut fan, has been less impressed. “Somehow she undermines her own credibility because of her self-righteous tone. She is immensely talented but yet to show the spark of greatness. Only then will people respect her even when they disagree with her,” he said.
