THE TIMES OF INDIA (September 17, 2020)

New Delhi: Terming the recent assault of a retired Indian Navy officer and demolition of actor Kangana Ranaut’s office in Mumbai as “state-sponsored violence”, three senior BJP MPs on Wednesday approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urging it to conduct an inquiry and take action against the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra.

The three MPs who submitted the memorandum to NHRC were Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vikas Mahatme and Bhagwat Karad. “A retired Navy officer Madan Sharma was beaten up by the 8 to 10 members of the Shiv Sena. Sharma was attacked due to the circulation of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's cartoon on a WhatsApp group. Leaders of the party including MP Sanjay Raut supported such an attack,” the BJP MPs stated in the memorandum.

“Physical attacks on the citizens over their exercise of rights such as freedom of speech to criticise the state government end up into state-sponsored violence. The Maharashtra government has not spared freedom of the press,” it said The three MPs also said vindictive action was taken against Kangana Ranaut who had become vocal against the government. “There are a number of incidents of police atrocities reported merely on the ground of raising voice over social media. Whereas posting defamatory material against the Prime Minister or any other persons in opposition are conveniently overlooked and discriminatory practices adopted by the Maharashtra government,” they said while urging the rights body to order a probe. 

Vijay V Singh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 9, 2020)

Mumbai: The Mumbai municipal corporation issued a 24-hour notice to actor Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday seeking a reply on alleged “illegal alteration and construction” within the premises of her recently renovated bungalow at Pali Hill in Bandra. The structure is a row house which has been converted into an office.

If Kangana fails to reply to the notice in 24 hours (Wednesday morning), the BMC will demolish the unauthorised portion of the bungalow, said assistant municipal commissioner (H-West ward) Vinayak Vispute. BMC has moved court asking for a hearing and to ensure ex parte orders are not issued in case Kangana approaches it to stop the demolition.

The BMC notice lists out unauthorised constructions of toilet, kitchen, pantry on the ground floor. It also mentions an unauthorised room built on the first floor using a wooden partition and illegal inclusion of a second floor balcony into habitable area. The bungalow was earlier used as a kindergarten; Kangana purchased it a few years ago. She had approached the residents’s association to inform them that after renovating the bungalow she would use it as an office-cum-home.

The actor appeared unfazed by the action. She tweeted, “Now @mybmc has filed a caveat against me, really desperate to break my house, I deeply love what I built with so much passion over so many years but know that even if you break it my spirit will only get stronger .... GO ON ...”

Kangana’s lawyer replied to the notice stating no work was being carried out on her premises as “falsely understood by you (BMC)… therefore the stop work notice’ is absolutely bad in law.”

Civic staff had carried out an inspection of the bungalow on Monday. The action, in fact, followed news of the Centre giving her Y-plus security after her tweets comparing Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir riled the political dispensation in the state. Kangana’s comments were against Mumbai Police for its handling of the Sushant probe.

BMC’s notice to Kangana was dubbed as “politically motivated” by residents in the locality. Madhu Poplai, secretary, Pali Hill Residents' Association, said, “In the city, people always carry out some or the other alteration in their houses. If they want to act, BMC should act against all instead of targeting one person.”

Meanwhile, CRPF security was deployed at the building where Kangana lives, half a km away from the bungalow, a day ahead of her arrival in the city. The deployment was part of the new security arrangement provided by the Centre.

Clara Lewis (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 8, 2020)

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena-controlled municipal corporation carried out an inspection of Kangana Ranaut’s office on Pali Hill on Monday for alleged civic violations. The action followed on a day when the actor received Y-plus grade security cover from the Centre following a spat involving her and ruling parties in Maharashtra.

Immediately after BMC officers arrived at her office, Kangana tweeted: They have forcefully taken over my office measuring everything, also harassing my neighbors…” She said BMC warned her neighbours that they would have to bear the consequences of her actions. “I am informed tomorrow they are demolishing my property,” she said.

She also posted a video of the team inspecting her office and an earlier video of the place. The office was a row house which has been converted into a commercial establishment.

In a second tweet, she said: “I have all the papers, BMC permissions, nothing has been done illegal...BMC should send a structure plan to show the illegal construction with a notice, today they raided my place and without any notice tomorrow they demolishing (sic) entire structure.”

A neighbour said eight BMC staffers inspected the rowhouses. “One of them had only women, who did not allow them in. We have not been issued any notice. They inspected and left,” said a neighbour.

Another neighbour said he allowed the BMC staff in as he thought they had come to inspect the leakage in his house. “They were polite and were here for only 10 minutes,” he said.

A third neighbour said the fifth rowhouse is owned by Ranaut while the sixth comprises three shops on the ground floor and an office on the first floor. “These rowhouses have been around 45-50 years. Kangana had repaired her rowhouse around a couple of years ago as have the others,” he said.

BMC refused to comment. Municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal and H-West ward officer Vinayak Vispute did not respond to queries.

Meanwhile, residents of DeBreeze on 16th Road, Khar are a worried lot. Kangana is a resident of the building and in January this year, BMC had filed a complaint against Kangana and other residents at the Dindoshi sessions court for illegal extensions. Sources said on Monday, civic officials asked the session court for an urgent hearing. “BMC has been told that the matter will be heard by the regular judge on September 9,” said sources. Kangana has already declared she will be coming to Mumbai on that day and has dared anyone to stop her.

Kangana’s outburst against Mumbai Police saying she feared the force and describing the city to be as dangerous as “PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir)” had led to sharp criticism from Sena, Congress and NCP. Even the state BJP has said they do not support her statements.
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 8, 2020)

A team of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials visited Kangana’s office at Pali Hill, Bandra, yesterday, along with other properties in close vicinity, and have apparently warned residents and property owners they may demolish illegal constructions found on the premises today. Some residents reached out to Kangana’s sister Rangoli, who’s in Manali with the actress, to inform her about the developments.

Kangana, who is expected to return to Mumbai tomorrow, told us, “All work has been done with the BMC’s permission. This was their second visit, and they haven’t given notice or any plan.”

The cluster of row houses also includes properties that belong to designers Surily Goel and Manish Malhotra. While Goel said she’s not aware of any such development, Malhotra stated he’s busy with a professional commitment and has no idea about this. We reached out to the BMC officials, but they didn’t respond till the time of going to press.

The actress says it is an effort to intimidate her; police say haven’t found anything yet, are still probing
Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2020)

The Kullu district police reached the house of Kangana Ranaut in Manali late Friday night after her team reported hearing gunshots near the house. While a preliminary investigation by the police did not immediately find evidence of mischief, the outspoken actress believes that it was meant to be a message conveyed to intimidate her, in context of her recent statements regarding the Sushant Singh Rajput case. The police, while they investigate the episode, have deployed a team at the actor’s residence and initiated checking for visitors.

“I was in my bedroom, at about 11.30 pm. We have three floors. We have a boundary wall, behind which there are apple orchards and a water body. I heard a cracker-like sound at 11.30. At first, I thought it must be a cracker. And then another shot happened, and I got a little alarmed since that sounded like a gunshot. Right now, there’s no tourist season in Manali or anything, there would be nobody out with crackers at this time,” Kangana tells us.

“So I called my security in charge immediately. And I asked him, what happened? He said, it might be some children or something here, we will go around and see whether it was crackers or some other noise was there. Now this person maybe has never heard a bullet sound, but I have. He thought it maybe has something to do with some mischief. So they went around, but there was nobody there. Now we were five people, and all these people here with me – they all felt it was a bullet noise. And this one doesn’t have a cracker kind of noise. So we called the cops.”

What did the police find? “They said maybe somebody in the orchard was trying to shoot bats, because the bats, they damage the apples. So it could have been that kind of a shot. So we gave that the benefit of doubt. And then this morning we called the orchard owners from the nearby areas and asked them if they had been here, near my house, and did they shoot any bullets at 11.30 pm? And they said no, they haven’t done any such activity. And my staff tells me that in so many years we’ve never seen people shooting bullets at bats or anything like that here in the apple orchards, for sure. And especially not at midnight. So we are just coming to conclusions. Let’s see what this was, and if this is repeated again. I have heard the sound of a bullet and I think it was definitely a bullet, very intently fired twice, two shots with a gap of about eight seconds between them. And it was right opposite my room. So it seems like someone was behind the boundary walls, there’s a jungle and a water body there.”

But what purpose would be served by rounds fired in the air near her home? “I do feel that, you know, because I have made a political comment on people who are known for their goondagardi. So this may have been a small-time warning call for me that okay, you know, don’t talk like that about us or something like that... to me seems like that, because such an activity has never happened here before. And I have witnesses who have also heard it along with me.”

“I don’t think it was a local weapon, what they use, the .22 — because my papa also had a rifle and I heard it often, growing up. This was not that sound. I think some local people may have been hired to come near my place, you know, it is not difficult to pay someone Rs. 7,000-8,000 here and assign them something like this. To do this to make a statement on the day I called out the chief minister’s son – I don’t think it was a coincidence. People are telling me that they will now make your life miserable in Mumbai. Well, I don’t have to be in Mumbai, they are doing it here also. Is there open goondagardi in this country? This is how Sushant must have been frightened. But I will continue to ask questions,” she asserts.

Are her parents with her as well? “No, my parents are in Mandi, where they live. But there is so much stress in the family because of this, because of all that has been happening the past few days. I have received so many threats. It has become very difficult for me to handle my ageing parents, they pressurise me not to say anything. They have not slept the whole night. They will be coming to Manali from Mandi now.”

What have the police done? “They have left people here and they are saying they will check all vehicles that are coming in.”

On their part, the police, while still probing, have not confirmed foul play so far. The SP, Kullu, Gaurav Singh, told us that “a team headed by a DSP rank officer was rushed to the spot immediately. Nothing concrete came out as, prima facie, it appears to be a case of stray noise created by landlords or farm keepers, who are on night vigil to protect their orchards and farms from wild animals. The area has a lot of farms. Also, forensic experts were with the team, but no chemical trace, bullet empties or cartridges were recovered.”

The police has documented the episode in the Daily Diary Register, apart from deputing men at Kangana’s residence. “We have recorded statements of other residents too, to corroborate the facts. The area police has been instructed to keep a close eye,” says the SP.

Three constables were stationed overnight at Kangana’s residence, and a detailed probe into the matter has been initiated by the area police. According to the SHO of Manali Police Station, Sandeep Pathania, “deployment happened at night. But now, post initial investigations, the patrolling staff in that area has been instructed to remain vigilant. The beat staff of the area will take stock of the situation on a regular basis. They will coordinate with Kangana’s staff at regular intervals.” Responding to Kangana’s statement on all orchard owners stating that none of them had created any such disturbance last night, the SHO said that the police has noted the statements of many people already, and added that “some more people will be questioned today”.

Police sources said the updates on the case are being sent to the CM’s office.

— With inputs from Ankur Batra

Kangana Ranaut in the glasshouse observatory of her new house in Manali, where she was spending her recent timeout philosophising and learning to play the piano, before returning to Mumbai

Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 4, 2018)

There are perks of being in Manali. Kangana Ranaut steps out of her house for a 5 am walk and on many days, manages to get back without being mobbed. The days are spent in idling, philosophising, learning to play the piano and looking up at the stars through her glasshouse observatory in the picturesque house, a labour of love she has just recently completed. Her birthday comes and goes without any drama or press. In the evening, on a whim, she hops into an SUV — no burly bodyguards, not one — and drives across town for a quiet dinner, happy that most of the crowd is firang and lets her spend an undisturbed evening. You can’t do that in Mumbai, no way. She came out of her hilly hibernation to have a conversation on ageing, failure, introspection — and item numbers!

Do you get a sense of fulfillment on finally staying at this place? Was it one of those younger dreams ki ek din main jahan se aayi thi waahan ghar banaungi?
No. I always felt that if I have the option, why would I build a house in Himachal Pradesh? I’ll make it in Europe or somewhere. When you are a tourist you go on this drive, where you want to hike, you want to skate, there is a lot of physical restlessness. That died down, it just settled. Maybe because I travelled a lot, or maybe because it just had to. And then started another restlessness, which was more within, and I wanted to find who I am. For that I need a place. Around four years ago, it was spontaneous, and I told my parents that I want to make a very small house in Manali and test that feeling... like have a one bedroom and kitchen and see how I feel there. Do I feel a sense of what I am looking for? And I was so busy with my work. And they got this grand project, they saw the land, and I am like, what? You guys spent so much and got this, but I was just testing! And then one thing rolled into another, and my architect came over, and she made this grand house.

When I came in for the first time, I was like, I don’t know, I am investing all my savings, everything that I have ever done, you know, into something that I don’t know if I will be able to relate with. I was very confused. But when I came here, the Kartikeya temple was a big indicator for me. The locals came and they said I should go and visit it. The vibration here is so strong, and when they told me there is this temple, I asked which one is this? And I had read a lot about Kartikeya’s mahasamadhi in the Himalayas, and I asked if this is the same place where it took place, and they said yes. And I am like, this is it. This is it. So that was this indication for me. Basically for me, it’s more for a spiritual purpose. And my house is named Kartikeya Niwas, after the temple. I feel I am so fortunate to be in this place, because this is such a great place, such a great energy. I mean, I can’t explain enough how fortunate I feel, because of the temple.

So what have you been thinking about in the time you have spent here — has the restless within been sorted?
I have just been analysing myself. How amazing I have been, but how stupid also. There are things that I did well in these many years — I am 31 now — and it is just sort of going back and looking at things, what I did, how I did. And there are things that are amazing which I always thought are amazing, and then there are things that are utterly stupid, like my personality traits. And I am like, why would I even do that... it is not my actions, it is the personality traits, you know, and I am amused. At myself. Because I am getting this time with myself, I am able to dive into myself and see things and sort of change them.

Don’t get me wrong, it is not like I don’t love Maharashtra, I am playing a Marathi these days (laughs). I am playing Lakshmi Bai and I am speaking some Marathi as well. My characters affect me a lot and that has also given me a sense of belonging there. But the Himalayas have their own charm. It’s the vibration here. The temple right above my house, the one I mentioned. And the vibration of it, it is easier to meditate here, it is easier to do yoga, it is easier to concentrate. So for these things, this place gets extra marks, but that doesn’t mean Mumbai is any less. Mumbai is the one who sort of raised me, you know? So if you have to compare, you know how they say Yashoda will always be the bigger influence (for Krishna), how the one who adopts you and loves you like a mother will always have the higher place? That’s how Mumbai is. I went there as a nobody, with Rs 1500, and it gave me everything.

As you get older, are you getting any wiser? Or do you want to be?
Oh yes. I have been very fortunate with the experiences and the people that I meet, how they add to my life. You know, sometimes age doesn’t enhance your perception of things, in fact it brings it down. You tend to build walls around you, you tend to be...

A cynic after your experiences?
Yes, of course. That is the nature of our intellect.

And your experiences have not been the most gentle, perhaps?
Exactly. But at the same time, they have been extremely revealing of who I am as a person. They have revealed things to me that I did not know about myself. I have been very fortunate — what I needed at what point of time, it has come to me, in terms of my growth as a person. Because I see people around me, and I realize it is not that if you are growing in age, you will grow up also (laughs)! If you do not have the humility to know that there is always room for improvement, then your growth has stopped. So I understand that even though I have been very fortunate, I can still do a lot better with myself. And that pushes me to go away from chaos and spend time with myself. To look into the aspects of my personality that are holding me back as a person. In terms of professional or personal success.

In which area are you a wiser person today — as a professional or as an individual?
As an individual. There is an exceptional arc that I have acquired as a person who is skilled in their craft, but there is always room to learn the craft more, whether it is acting or the subtleties of storytelling or writing. But what I have gained as a person is extraordinary. I think my life has shaped me into an individual who is extraordinary, can be better, but who definitely has got... you know... (pauses) The way I am as a person is a lot better than I am as an actor.

Is this what you had thought you would be when you had started out in your 20s?
No, I didn’t have the clarity. In fact, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But I was willing. I was willing to be somebody. And I had one desire in life that no matter what I do, I should be good at it. But I did not have any ambition. I think that’s what most people lack. Because we tend to admire only the superficial layer of every individual, and people think that as if it exists on its own. My story would not have been valued if it would not have come with the success that it came with. The person I am as a professional — it stems out of the person I am, the human being I am. So people tend to see the success and they assume that and they value that a lot more. But nobody starts out as saying that I want to be a good person when I grow up, or at least a happy person.

The last time we spoke, we were discussing how Rangoon was dissected so much and analysed so much that — I quote you, “now I have become an unchained beast” since nothing worse can happen. And then Simran happened! So are you an even bigger beast now?
(Laughs) I think failure is inevitable. It is nothing to feel embarrassed about. You can tell that I am not embarrassed of my failure. Yeah, for that time it baffles you, because you obviously don’t understand why things are not falling into place. In some way you feel entitled for things to fall into place. You are disappointed if it does not come together.


“I need to do things that have no purpose, and it’s a lot of fun” — that’s Kangana’s state of mind at her Manali home, and high on her list of purposeless activities was learning to play the piano

In most cases, when it does not come together, people say okay, I am slightly subdued, I’ll bounce back. You say that now that my film has flopped, I am an unchained beast. If you then have another flop coming, are you still saying okay, no big deal, now what more?
Absolutely no big deal. You can tell from my choices, you know, that I am... It can either make you extremely insecure or it can give you freedom. There’s no middle ground. Either you can get very insecure of your place, of who you are, or it can just make you understand the dynamics, the relationship between you and the work you have acquired. For me it has always been the latter, because I have the habit of deconstructing things...

Including yourself?
Yes, including myself ! And when I get into my failure or my success, I realise that I deeply love what I do, but I am also intelligent enough to know which part of it I love. From my choices you can tell I am not somebody who enjoys a crowd shouting my name or to wake up in the morning to how many followers I have, to tell them that I have had coffee. You can see the sort of commercial films that I don’t do. It is easy to see that my priorities are not that. The brands that I let go. So I have this much intelligence to understand that there is something other than this that I enjoy. And that is engagement. A film character, the imaginary world, the engagement that it gives to my creative mind. And the sense of purpose that I get every morning. So I have figured out that the things that I love about my job, I am always going to have. I can always write, I can always direct, I can be a volunteer and just write what I want to write, and make movies. So why will I be insecure?

I am not saying that what I do, what I want, or what I like or dislike are right or wrong, no. I am just trying to tell you why I appear so unaffected by all of this. It’s not because I don’t care for my happiness, in fact I care the most, but it’s just that I am a little different. The things that make me happy, might not be the things that everyone is after.

Such as?
Like I don’t do fairness brands, I don’t do big hero films, I don’t do item numbers which can boost your vanity to some unimaginable proportion.

Why don’t you do item numbers?
Well... I don’t do item numbers because there is nothing to be done in them. They are... they are obscene, they are at times unfair, most of them are sexist. What is there to be done in them? I personally feel they should be banned. I can’t be a part of something which is so toxic for us, our society, our children. If tomorrow, you have a daughter, I have a daughter, would I want her to be called those names, objectified like that? I mean, there are children out there, we need to take responsibility for them.

You said last year that your character flaw is that you’re “too, too, too headstrong”. Now, that you’re a year older, has it come down to just two ‘too’s?
(Laughs) Well, I think when you are young, you are hot-blooded, you are impulsive, you are passionate. It’s just the beauty of youth, of being that way. But in some way it starts to come down, in some way you start to grow other traits of your personality. But I will remember my growing up days as someone who was obscenely hot blooded (laughs). But now I feel that there is definitely a shift in my personality.

There is definitely a shift in your language in the last three to four years.
Yeah. There is a shift, there is a sense of calm that you feel. I am 31, running on 32. But it brings about a sense of calm in you, if you try for it. I did try for it. I could have been... you know. But I feel like that phase was great, it was good. Now, for my growth, I need to step out of my ego, or being hot-blooded, high-headed. But then comes a point when you crave engagement with your environment, you want people around you, you want to operate in a way that makes your environment absolutely pleasant, ecstatic. So that’s what I crave. More than my ego, I crave pleasantness. There was a time when pleasantness did not matter to me.

Many would say you craved conflict!
Yeah, you know, a few years ago.

Like ‘a bring it on, let’s have a fight’, that tone…
Yeah, bring it on. That was like... but now, I think what I crave is a lot of pleasantness in my environment. But that doesn’t mean that I will not raise my voice or fight for what is right.

Is the belligerence of the twenties over?
The hot-bloodedness of the youth is a very giddy headed feeling, you know, you just cannot control it...In today’s time, that’s why I feel it’s very important for people like us and the youth that are coming, to be given a cause. Otherwise their cause becomes just being anti-national (laughs). At a very young age, I got a cause from my guru, from my master (Vivekananda). But if you don’t have a cause, that age is a waste, it can just go down the drain, and then you have lost the most precious time. I am happy that at least I had some romance, about life, about values, about things that I want to do. I wanted to change, and I was this larger-than-life hero in my mind, and I love that feeling. But if I want to have that feeling now, I can’t have it. It’s not that I don’t want it, that high is something else. You are drunk, in love — in love whether with an individual, or with your cause, the way you see yourself. Do I want to feel like that? Yes, maybe. But do I feel like that? No, I don’t. But you can always shift the scene, you know... the emotion shifts and you can choose which way you want to take it.

You have become a very evolved self-critic with every passing year.
Thank you! You answered your own question! I hope you put that in the interview also (laughs)!

The actress is looking forward to an event in the US to promote Gandhian thought as she preps for her upcoming film and wraps up her period drama
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 31, 2018)

Since the last few days, Kangana Ranaut has been chilling at her eight-bedroom Manali bungalow with a picturesque view of the Himalayas. “I love being in the hills and there is something about this place that makes you fall in love with it. Maybe it’s the serenity that feels so surreal. I sent my sister Rangoli a video recently with a self-written quote that stated that time doesn’t roll in space here, it gently caresses her, then kisses and makes love to her,” says Kangana who is enjoying this breather from the city and the glam world.

She informs that a few local fans gather outside her home during the day hoping for a glimpse of their fave actress and maybe even a selfie with her. “Sometimes, I wave to them. The tourist season starts in a week’s time when the place will get crowded and this blessed silence will be gone. Thank God, I’ll be gone by then,” says the actress who returns to the Bay on April 2 and will immediately dive into prep for Prakash Kovelamudi’s upcoming film Mental Hai Kya.

In August, she flies off to New Jersey to be a part of ‘Gandhi Going Global’, a two-year initiative to spread Gandhian philosophy through interactive activities, educational programmes, motivational talks and cultural events which culminates on August 18 and 19. There, Kangana, who will be representing India, will rub shoulders with many dignitaries, including former First Lady of the US Michelle Obama, American advocate Martin Luther King III and media proprietor — talk show host-actress-philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey.

“For me, it’s always been about the impact you make on society and how you contribute to it. Sharing the stage with Michelle and Oprah will be inspiring. I’ve never been anybody’s fan but I admire and idolise women like Oprah. Once I get back to Mumbai, I will know exactly what I will be talking on and for how long, depending on which I will prepare my speech,” says Kangana who has read a lot of books on Mahatma Gandhi while growing up, lists him as one of the greatest minds ever. “He was a sensible, intelligent man which is not very common,” she says. Talking about her connect with him she points out that her soon-to-release period drama, Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi, promotes khadi and shows the Jhansi Ki Rani weaving it on a charkha as was common in those days. The style icon plans to go desi for the event.

Talking of looks, she sports many different looks in Mental Hai Kya and will have to attend some workshops and do a lot of readings for the film. “I will resume shooting for Manikarnika from April 6 for seven-eight days of patchwork,” says a rejuvinated Kangana who is looking forward to getting back to action.

Meanwhile, she’s found a new love in her nephew Prithvi Raj who she describes as “lovely and cute”. “I’ve never seen life in such a pure form. His anger and joy, smiles and cries are all so pure. I can stare at him all day,” she says.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 24, 2017)

Kangana Ranaut, who’s been planning to venture into filmmaking for a while now, marked her 30th birthday on March 23 by gifting herself a three-storey bungalow close to her current residence in Khar.

Work on the interiors of the property, which will serve as an office space, has already begun.

We has now learnt that award-winning interior designer, Shabnam Gupta, has been working closely with the actress, meticulously planning the details. “Kangana wants the office to be glamourous. She is simultaneously working on the interiors of her home in Manali,” a source close to the actress told Mirror.

Kangana had laid the foundation stone of her home in Himachal and begun work on the construction of an organic farm in January.

Last seen in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Rangoon, the actress has wrapped up Hansal Mehta’s Simran and now moves on to film Manikarnika – The Queen of Jhansi. “After that, she’ll begin work on her directorial debut. She will make an announcement mid-2017 about the upcoming production venture,” the source added.
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 24, 2017)

Known for power-packed performances as much as razor- sharp statements, Kangana Ranaut rang in her 30th birthday yesterday. Before diving into Manikarnika, her next project on Rani Lakshmi Bai which that midday first wrote about, the actress visited Vaishno Devi with family. The religious trip was not just to seek blessings for the film, but also a new acquisition — she has bought a bungalow office.

Sources close to her inform that the property is close to her Khar residence. Kangana has been working on its décor and wants it to mirror the typical pahadi vibe of her Manali house, from the stone flooring to the rustic roof. For this, she has once again turned to interior designer Shabnam Gupta for help.

A source says, “It’s a spacious three-storey bungalow. Kangana had always dreamt of her own office space and intends to start work on her directorial project this year. She also hopes to turn producer in the near future. Once she wraps up Manikarnika, she will immerse herself in her directorial debut. She is expected to make an announcement regarding her next ventures sometime in mid- 2017.”

Kangana’s spokesperson confirms the news.

Ankur Batra (BOMBAY TIMES; July 21, 2016)

Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; March 27, 2014)

Kangana Ranaut has moved into a new home, a high-rise in Khar. Most of the occupants in the building are yet to take possession of their apartments. The building received its OC (Occupation Certificate) only recently and even the municipality has not yet allotted the owners regular water supply and other basic amenities. Since the BMC water supply will take a little while to start, the curlyhaired actress has to use mineral water for bathing.

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2014)

Kangana Ranaut, who got herself a swanky new apartment — a 4 BHK, with a terrace in Khar, will be moving into her new home today. The actress was living with her parents at their home in Andheri after she sold her earlier residence in Santacruz. The curlyhaired actress’ new apartment has been done up by Queen director Vikas Bahl’s wife Richa. And, it is said to be literally fit for a queen.

Says the actress, “It took a year for us to get the Occupation Certificate (OC). Earlier, OC would be issued after people started living in the buildings. But according to the new rule, one can shift only after the OC is issued. I’m glad the wait is over and I’m moving in on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri.”

The feel of her plush abode is fusion, with wood logs and slate stones, “like cottages in Shimla and Manali”, she says, adding, “Richa has kept my personality in mind. So, there’s a fusion of mountain houses and old Hollywood.”

The actress has personally picked up artefacts from places across Europe. One of the highlights is a Marilyn lamp, which has been designed by Kangana herself. She’s also planning a housewarming party next month.