Kangana Ranaut: Bollywood star turned political lightning rod - IOL

ACTRESSES and politicians almost always have a controversial public life. There are probably few actresses who have been as headline-grabbing in both these areas as Kangana Ranaut.

From her Bollywood debut as a fiercely independent, successful outsider with no family tradition in cinema to back her up, to her latest role as a Member of Parliament for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ranaut’s career path has been defined by unapologetic combativeness.

Where other public figures retreat under media pressure, Ranaut frequently leans in, sometimes turning personal disputes into national debates and political skirmishes into ideological battles, with her inevitably hogging the limelight. Never one to tread gently or display tact where required, Ranaut’s latest public spat was just a fortnight ago with Bollywood colleague Kriti Sanon over a Raksha Bandhan TV advertisement, which had Ranaut being labelled as “a self-appointed cultural watchwoman” by some media.

Kriti Sanon in the bralette-style blouse that created a storm.

It started when jewellery brand GIVA launched a festive campaign featuring Sanon wearing a rather skimpy Indo-Western outfit with a bralette-style blouse. Ranaut immediately lashed out on Instagram, describing this as "intentionally creepy". Questioning why an actor would choose to tie a rakhi in what Ranaut called a "bikini/undergarment," given all the wardrobe choices available to modern women, she ignited a massive online culture war.

When Sanon defended the ad by asserting that "culture is in the heart, not in the neckline," and political figures like opposition leader Rahul Gandhi weighed in on women’s sartorial freedom, Ranaut pivoted to a broader civilisational argument. In TV interviews, she argued that the bralette was just a minor detail, taking issue instead with the overall commodification of Hindu festivals.

She pointed to the absence of traditional elements like tilak, lamps, or home-cooked sweets, arguing that festivals are not mere aesthetic expressions, but sacred traditions governed by specific rules. The feud quickly boomeranged. Social media users and industry critics began digging up Ranaut’s own past commercials, including a festive ad for a jewellery brand where she wore a strapless, low-cut outfit, as well as her past red-carpet looks, calling out what they viewed as selective moral policing and hypocrisy.

Under immense pressure from the online storm Ranaut helped amplify, the jewellery brand pulled the ad. This incident illustrates how Ranaut operates in modern public life. Taking a commercial, pop-culture artifact, framing it as an attack on civilisational values, forcing the brand to back down, and keeping herself at the absolute centre of the national conversation.

But Ranaut’s transformation into a political lightning rod began within the film industry long before her political debut.

In 2017, during an appearance on celebrated Bollywood icon Karan Johar’s talk show, she famously labelled the host the "flagbearer of nepotism," triggering a culture war inside Hindi cinema that continues to resonate. What started as a critique of Bollywood’s elite soon expanded into broader attacks by Ranaut on political figures, media houses, and social movements. Her outspoken, right-leaning commentary made her an ideal political candidate, culminating in her victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections representing her home constituency of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

However, taking on an official parliamentary role did not alter her combative rhetoric; instead, it elevated her controversies onto a broader political stage. Even as an elected representative, Ranaut’s unfiltered remarks have frequently caught her own political party off-guard.

One of her most high-profile political rows occurred over the repealed agricultural reform bills. Speaking on the issue, she stirred nationwide debate by calling for the reinstatement of the contentious laws.

"I know this will be controversial, but I feel the farm laws that were repealed should be brought back. The farmers themselves should demand it,” Ranaut said, probably forgetting that her own party introduced the changes.

The reaction from opposition parties was immediate, with rivals pointing to her statements as proof of hidden policy agendas. The outcry forced the BJP to issue a formal clarification stating that her comments were personal and did not reflect official party policy.

Ranaut subsequently issued a public retraction and apology.

"I have to keep in mind that I am not just an artist but also a BJP worker. My opinions should not be personal and should be the party's stand. I regret and take my words back," she said, perhaps under threat of being ousted from her party for not toeing the line.

It was a rare instance of Ranaut apologising for her remarks. Beyond agricultural policy, Ranaut has frequently positioned herself as a defender of traditional cultural values, putting her at odds with younger generations and social activists.

A prominent recent clash erupted over student-led demonstrations. Taking to social media, Ranaut launched a scathing critique against young protesters and modern lifestyle choices.

"Never in my life have I seen so much ugliness in one place... Here is a new generation of so-called westernised Indian women. I call them Generation gutter,” she said, drawing widespread condemnation from student groups, opposition politicians, and civil rights advocates, who accused her of using crude language to discredit legitimate civic discourse by the youth protests, which even prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the unprecedented move of posting online videos to address the youth.

Opposition figures also questioned the decorum expected of a sitting MP, to which Ranaut retorted by doubling down on her critique of street decorum while insisting her comments were aimed at maintaining social standards.

Ranaut’s cinematic work remains deeply intertwined with her political identity. Her directorial feature Emergency, in which she portrayed controversial former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, faced multiple delays and resistance from regulatory boards and political groups concerned about its historical representation, some even calling it misrepresentation. Rather than shying away from the friction, Ranaut used the platform to decry censorship and artistic bias, asserting that mainstream political and industry forces were trying to suppress her work.

Her clashes with film certification authorities and political opponents further cemented her reputation as a figure who treats every project as an ideological battleground. To her supporters, Ranaut is a fearless truth-teller who refuses to bow to political correctness or institutional gatekeepers. To her detractors, she is an unpredictable agitator who routinely undermines public decorum for personal and political mileage.

As she navigates her dual identity as a parliamentarian and filmmaker, one thing remains constant - wherever Kangana Ranaut goes, controversy is almost guaranteed to follow. 

Fakir Hassen is a veteran Bollywood critic who has written four books on the subject.