“I mean the graph and the ambition of an ordinary man, and whenever we have a PM who is a chaiwala, then I always say that it is not his victory but it is the victory of my democracy. I am a big fan and I feel he is the right role model,” were the words of an unapologetic woman in News18’s Rising India Summit.
There is Aamir Khan’s selective outrage in Satyameva Jayate. There are Shahrukh Khan’s bogus threats to leave the nation (its execution is still awaited). There is Taimur’s eat-sleep-repeat regime. Then we have a lone tigress roaring amongst the B-town wolves.
Yes, we are speaking of none other than Kangana Ranaut, who broke the chauvinistic, Khan-dominated Bollywood’s myths by donning the hate of the main lead in all her movies. Only a self-made woman like Kangana Ranaut can appreciate and understand the hardships Narendra Modi would have undergone in his journey.
While there are some actors who cry about being searched at international airports, Kangana Ranaut batted for having self respect as an Indian by changing the outlook towards things. She said, “I am a proud Indian. And I think the self-respect of our people needs to rise. Nowadays, it’s cool to say bad things about your own nation. The young generation is always complaining, saying there’s no infrastructure, there’s no cleanliness. This attitude is not okay… We will only rise when our country rises. We need to make that happen ourselves. I want to go abroad and be treated with respect because I’m an Indian, not because I’m someone important.”
Calling herself a ‘cool youngster of the twenty first century’, she lambasted the lot who feel ashamed or deliberately don’t stand for the Indian national anthem. She added that if we have to imbibe something good from the Americans, it has to be the way they stand up for their national anthem.
Without bragging about being a torch-bearer of ‘Swachh Bharat’, Kangana mentioned how she picks up empty packets thrown by people in her hometown and keeps them in her pocket. She added, “If I see an overflowing tanker, I personally request the people to close water supply.”
Bollywood has been known to for its one sided love of Pakistani artists and cricketers, while our neighbor has returned the favor by banning the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. By boldly putting forward her stance on Pakistani actors being invited to India, she clearly stated that her ilk cannot ignore everything on the pretext of being actors. The money Pakistani actors earn in India is taxed in Pakistan. This tax is used to serve Pakistan’s army, which kills Indian soldiers and citizens alike.
Kangana has also been extremely vocal about her thoughts regarding nepotism in the film industry. Her statements on a show with Karan Johar took B-town by storm. She responded to it by saying, “I am not some activist. For me, it was just an observation. It became a national debate because everyone had it in their sub-conscious mind. I was the catalyst because I said it on a popular talk-show.”
She also grabbed a billion eyeballs by fearlessly speaking about her relationship and breakup with Hritik Roshan on a talk show with anchor Rajat Sharma.
In an industry where newcomers look to join either of the Khan camps, Kangana Ranaut created her own fan following. A couple of years ago, the actor said, “In the beginning, I wanted to have a conventional, very easy route where I could work with big heroes and become a big heroine. Now I get a lot of offers to work with the Khans. When I wanted work, nobody was ready to work with me. Now that I’m my own hero on the sets, why should I work with other heroes?”
Be it not inviting Pak artists, be it nepotism in the film industry, be it break-ups with actors born with a silver spoon, Kangana Ranaut has always found her way, with her words as well as her work. All we can say is, ‘Way to go Kangana Ranaut!’