Kangana Ranaut was at her candid best at the Times LitFest 2016, where she spoke about myriad subjects including how men feel threatened by her and the onscreen characters that have consumed her. Journalist Manu Joseph threw a volley of questions at the actress, and she took them on, one by one, with a sense of humour. Excerpts...

BREAKING THE MYTH SURROUNDING HER
After Queen, there was a phase when girls would grab my face, bury it in their breasts and sob their hearts out. They thought I was like my character in the film, but in real life, I like to maintain the facade of a person who is unapproachable. I need my space and don't want anyone to interfere with my thought process. I want to be badass.

BEING UNABASHEDLY HERSELF
Ten years ago, I couldn't speak English and didn't know how to dress properly, but it didn't shake my belief. I don't find anything embarrassing. I have always valued my individuality.

BATTLING SEXISM
If women want to succeed, they should stop expecting different set of rules for themselves. They need to depend and develop their own skill set.

MEN FEEL UNSETTLED IN HER PRESENCE
It's heart-breaking to see how scared people get when I start talking, especially men. Women are not as intimidated, but men are sometimes not even in control of their expressions; it's like they've seen a ghost. I wish I could do something to comfort them, but I can't change myself.

A SMALL-TOWN GIRL IN MUMBAI
I find it very odd when people, who belong to big towns, have illusions of grandeur. They feel that they are allowed to belittle others. People think they can run away from the real India, by living in their beautiful houses. My upbringing was special. The only time I realised I was different was when people would come to Himachal and ask for cappuccino. While growing up we had no cappuccinos, only wild raspberries!

HOW BOLLYWOOD ACTORS VIEW POLITICS
The industry is self-consumed and indulgent. We are a bunch of oversensitive artistes trying to make films, some of which don't work. We don't see politics as a point of discussion, other than story-telling. Politics isn't casually discussed at film parties. At such get-togethers, the conversations are superficial. It's personal stuff, gossip, or about someone's wife (laughs). Of course, sometimes there are serious conversations about filmmaking, too.

HER INTENSE ACTING PROCESS
I can't switch on and switch off my character, like others. When I was filming Rangoon, Vishal (Bhardwaj) told me that I am one of those actors who over-preps for a role, like Pankaj Kapur. I read the script multiple times, sculpt the character and have imaginary conversations with her. I am anyway accused of being a psychopath. I am refuelling those rumours (laughs!).

THE CLASH BETWEEN REEL AND REAL LIFE
As actors, we stimulate ourselves to situations that don't exist. Over a period of time, we become emotionally unhealthy. When I was enacting my death scene in Katti Batti, I had become very sensitive. I had to take care of my emotional and physical health. I do a lot of meditation to counter it. The characters play on our minds and it can cause a disconnect with reality. That's why most actors are in a time warp and they often don't have a personality of their own. They are always playing someone else. For my character in my next film Simran, I was beaten by a few men for a scene. After the shot, I cried in the car as it was difficult to come to terms with the brutality. I had to remind myself that it was just a character. After Queen, I went into a phase where I felt that I was being ignored and that I had just had a break-up. At 29, I can't carry the baggage of my experiences. Otherwise, I won't be able to last till even 50.