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Slap Gate to Nepotism Debate: A Look at Kangana Ranaut's Popular Controversies
Kangana Ranaut, known for her bold statements and controversial views, has now made a significant mark in Indian politics. The Bollywood actress, who recently won the Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, ran as a candidate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and secured a decisive victory over Congress’ Vikramaditya Singh.
Shortly after her electoral success, Kangana Ranaut faced an unexpected incident at Chandigarh Airport. Reports surfaced that a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel named Kulwinder Kaur allegedly slapped the actress after she had cleared the security check. The incident reportedly stemmed from Kulwinder's anger over Kangana’s previous remarks regarding the farmers' protests.
Kangana Ranaut has never shied away from expressing her opinions, even when they lead to widespread debates. One of her most talked-about controversies occurred on the chat show Koffee with Karan. During the episode, she accused the host and renowned filmmaker Karan Johar of being the "flag bearer of nepotism" in Bollywood. This statement ignited a significant discussion within the industry about favoritism and the struggles of outsiders in Bollywood.
In 2021, Kangana stirred another controversy with her remarks about India’s independence. Speaking at a news summit, she stated, "The freedom we got in 1947 was a 'bheekh' (alms), the citizens of India got real freedom in 2014." This comment, which appeared to credit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, was heavily criticized for seemingly undermining the efforts and sacrifices of India’s freedom fighters.
The same year, Kangana faced legal trouble when an FIR was filed against her for allegedly spreading hate propaganda and inciting communal violence in West Bengal. The complaint claimed that she had maligned the image of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In response to her remarks about post-poll violence in the state, Twitter (now X) suspended her account for provoking anger and violence. Her account was reinstated only two years later.
In 2020, Kangana Ranaut called Urmila Matondkar, who had turned from actress to politician, a "soft porn star" during a TV interview. At the time, Urmila was a Congress Party member and had run in the 2019 elections. Kangana's comment came after Urmila criticized her for speaking against veteran actress Jaya Bachchan. Kangana questioned why she couldn't enter politics if Urmila, whom she dismissed as only known for "soft porn films," could get a ticket.
Kangana's conflict with Hrithik Roshan was highly publicized. She referred to Hrithik as a "silly ex," leading him to file a legal case against her. Kangana claimed they had an affair during the filming of "Krrish 3," which Hrithik denied. This dispute resulted in leaked emails and numerous interviews from both sides trying to prove their stories.
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In 2020, Kangana faced major backlash after saying that Mumbai police "haunts her more than the mafias of Bollywood" and comparing Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This statement led to political turmoil, involving the then Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. The local municipal body issued a notice for illegal construction at her production house and even carried out a demolition.
In 2022, Kangana threatened to sue Filmfare magazine for nominating her for an award for her film "Thalaivii." She stated on Instagram that she had banned the magazine since 2014 due to its unethical practices and was shocked they were still nominating her and inviting her to their award function.
During the 2020 farmers' protests, Kangana mistakenly identified a woman farmer from Punjab as Bilkis Bano, a prominent face from the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests. She also suggested the woman could be hired for protests for ₹100, sparking a heated exchange on social media with singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh.
- PTC PUNJABI
