Emergency could well be among Kangana Ranaut’s definitive films. It not only sees her wield the directorial baton after she co-directed Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), but also holds the potential to be her most memorable role. What made her tell the story of late Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi? Was it the allure of essaying one of the most formidable figures in Indian politics? Or the desire to decode the darkest chapter of Gandhi’s political career?

The actor-director says, “I didn’t begin with the intention of making a movie on it. Since I am a socially and politically-aware person, I started reading about the Emergency. Apart from Coomi Kapoor’s book [The Emergency: A Personal History], I read Mrs Gandhi’s autobiography. Her guru Jiddu Krishnamurti had told her to stop the Emergency and she told him, ‘I feel I’m riding a beast, which I loved riding initially, but now I can’t get off it.’ This gave me an insight into somebody who had a conscience. Mrs Gandhi’s life was such a beautiful Shakespearean tragedy. There is a throne, a person destined to be the queen, her opponents, and her internal battle with her conscience.”

Ranaut’s position as a Bharatiya Janta Party member has also coloured people’s perception of the biopic. Many feel that she may have projected Gandhi in a negative light. Broach this subject, and she says, “What is it like to love your country and be loved back? That thought took over my existence. It reached a point where I was sure that I’d make the film, even if I have to sell my house to do it. I’ve been judged so much that I’m fed up. This film will be a tight slap on all those faces, who think I’ve projected her in a negative way! They didn’t even give my film a chance. It’s a week away, at least watch it [before forming your judgment].”

With the biopic, Ranaut believes she has shown Gandhi’s different facets—as a woman, a mother, and a politician. “Mrs Gandhi loved her son [Sanjay Gandhi] so deeply and then lost him! As the character, it was one of the most difficult things for me to come to terms with. Her life had so much pain, trauma and drama. I was keen to make this film because people don’t know those aspects of her.”

Directing the film, she admits, was an intense job. “My revenue took a hit. As an actor, I can do three films in a year, but as a writer-director, I can only do one film in three years. Then you’re selling your own things to pay for the film. So, I will take some time before I direct again. Selling the movie was a challenge. The protagonist is in her 60s, and everybody in the movie is wearing khadi kurta pyjamas, but luckily Zee Studios stepped in.”

After Sushant’s death, I turned to understand what happened — and that was when I realised my perceptions were also wrong, what he had actually gone through, and I was overcome with guilt and shame: Kangana Ranaut explains why she is so vocal about seeking #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput
Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; July 24, 2020)

When you first heard the news that Sushant Singh Rajput has died, what were your thoughts?
I have to admit that I was not following Sushant and his career. I don’t follow anybody. But my first reaction was shock, sheer disbelief. To me, he was (at that point) just another star, very promising and very talented. I would admit that at first, it looked like an impulsive thing that he might have done. I thought maybe because everyone is locked down, and this is a very unusual situation, so maybe that got to him? I was not thinking about all the layers.

Sushant and I, we never really crossed paths. But we were always really close, you know. For example, when he was new, we had a common friend called Sandip Ssingh. He even came to one of my birthdays I think, my 25th birthday, with Ankita Lokhande. I remember speaking to Ankita that night and not him. Later, I knew that he was doing Ram-Leela, and then he did not do it. I used to get all the updates. Kamal Jain, who was the producer of Manikarnika, worked with Sushant in the Dhoni film also. Every now and then, he used to talk about Sushant. When I was learning horse riding, he used to say that he organised the training for Sushant also. He used to wake up at 4am and finish the training at 6am. Once at Kamal ji’s office, I had reached and Sushant had just left. There was some kind of connection, but nothing direct.

(After his death) I called Kamal ji, and I spoke to him. And Ankita being a dear friend, I spoke to Ankita. I spoke to Sandip. Because that’s what you do, right? You try and understand what just happened.

Kamal ji told me that Sushant spoke to him days ago and said, ‘Make a big film with me. Kamal ji, you have to announce a big film with me. Everybody has banned me.’ That’s what he said to Kamal Jain. From there, I was very curious about this situation.

And then I understood his personality. I asked Kamal ji, how he was, I asked those regular questions — was he into drugs or a sex maniac as people had portrayed him? I had read blinds about him that he is having sex with anything that moves. And Kamal ji was like, ‘What rubbish! He was a genius, no drugs, he was very health conscious’ and all of that. And one thing he said — that he was very ambitious. But he wasn’t thick-skinned. If you are ambitious and thin-skinned, how is that gonna work?

When I spoke to Ankita, she said right from the beginning, there was so much humiliation that he could not take it. This is how she summed it up. She said that I knew this boy since he was working in serials, he became a top actor there, and then he did auditions after auditions, rejections after rejections, and then he got into the big bad world of Bollywood. (Then) every filmmaker wanted this boy from Bihar, they were fighting for his dates and he was so grounded. But one thing that she also said about him was that he was not thick-skinned. He would sit on Twitter when he was new and would fight with fans, asking ‘Why did you think that about me? Why did you say that about me? I am not this person that you are saying.’ Ankita told me that she used to tell him ki abhi ye toh hoga na. Everybody will have their perception of you, why are you so bothered about it? He just could not take that, he could not take what people thought about him. She said, over a period, the bad PR, the ganging up, the public humiliation, he just could not take it. He has had enough — that’s what she said.

I want to be very honest. I can’t say that Sushant came and told me all this but I gathered my perception of him and I understood that he was trapped, jaise Abhimanyu ko chakravyuh mein ghera jata hai. And a few personality traits of him did not work for him, one of which he mentioned, that he cannot express himself.

I spoke to Abhishek Kapoor ji and he said, ‘Kangana, woh shaheed ho gaya.’ I am quoting these people because I cannot tell you the whole conversations, but everyone summed it up in their own way. Abhishek in his interviews said that he was not the same boy from Kai Po Che by the time of Kedarnath. He had changed. Woh ghut gaya tha, he said, he had changed, they had choked him way before he actually choked himself.

At what point of time did it come to your mind, after absorbing all of this, that you need to speak about and talk about his case in the public space, in the manner you have been doing?
See, I don’t want to be standing on some high ground and be like, I always knew Sushant. No, I did not. And to be honest, when I would read these blinds after blinds, news after news that he is a rapist, he is a sex addict, he is doing drugs, he is beating up his directors, I remember thinking vaguely, ‘What is up with this boy? He needs to get control of his life.’ That was my perception of Sushant — but when I actually went deeper into the matter, I was taken over by an unbearable amount of guilt and shame. The kind of trap that they laid for him and the prejudice of an outsider, I saw it from (the perspective of) an outsider, who has been called a witch, a whore, what not. When I actually got to know about him, I was taken over by a strong sense of guilt and shame. And I recorded my first video, and I was shaking. I remember I was on the verge of crying because everything was clear to me that what had happened and honestly, it was just spontaneous.

How do you respond to the charge, frequently raised this week, that you are using Sushant to fight your personal battles and target people in the industry whom you are not on good terms with?
Someone like me, who has said no to Yash Raj Films, to Khans’ films, to Bhansali films, to big brands that have fairness attached to them — I could have done a lot for promotions. An actor gets more noticed for wearing a fancy dress than for acting in a film. The kind of media culture that we have here and internationally, it is influenced by the Kardashians. You don’t need somebody’s death to promote yourself. People can just do a TikTok video and have 10M followers. I can do Instagram or Twitter if I want to. I can do so much to promote myself.

About taking revenge from my enemies — I have always been vocal about that from Day One. I don’t need to ride on someone’s shoulders to take revenge.

Nobody has the right to tell me that you stop talking about your enemies because we will only talk about Sushant. Yes, it is about Sushant, but it is also about my life, because these people are still ganging up on me. I will talk about my enemies because maybe, we have lost Sushant, but there is still hope for my life. I will talk about it! You can’t tell me that now you shut up because you are still alive.

So for people to say that I am taking revenge from my enemies, of course, I am! Is there any doubt about it? One does not have to be a genius to figure that out. I want to live, I want to survive, I want to make it big. I won’t let people trap me, ruin me. I will do everything to fight them. So, I think it is a very lame argument to say that you should not be talking about your enemies.

The people who you often refer to as the power centres — none of them have engaged with your charges. On the other hand, we’ve been seeing a sort of a sharp, public digital spat between you and many who, themselves, are also ‘outsiders’. Why is that happening?
They are not gonna dirty their hands. None of them are addressing what I spoke about. Right now, if they talk, they will be trolled. So, who do they send? These outsiders. So they know which lives are valuable for them and which are not.

If I am talking about some points about how he was killed, you talk about those points na. Why are you talking about what I said ten years ago? Yaar, ten years ago my issues were different. Ten years ago, I did not know English, I was a skinny, frizzy-haired, scrawny-looking girl. People mocked me, made fun of me, but nobody was threatened by me. Forget my ten-year-old videos, yaar. Let’s talk about Sushant Singh’s murder!

So they are coming and saying that ten years ago you were saying this, of course, they are gonna get trolled. Of course, they are gonna lose their reputation. But they will not send their own talent to do that. These people are only turning outsider against outsider, because they don’t want to dirty their own hands. I had put such big charges on them, why are they not coming out in public and talking?

What does ‘B-grade actor’ mean?
(Pause) People like us, when we come from outside, we are enamoured by them. And that’s what even Ankita told me about Sushant. He wanted to be accepted. She said, “Kangana, Sushant was exactly like you… he was very intellectual, he would not gossip about anyone, and was very invested in what he did. He had that small-town personality.” But she said that “the only difference was that he wanted to be accepted. You somehow have gotten over that urge.”

It is true that in the beginning, even I wanted to. I went through that phase where I straightened my hair, I stuffed my lips with botox, I started to do films like Rascals, I wore a bikini — I wanted to be desperately accepted. I went through that. I wanted to be on the cover pages of magazines. I wanted to win awards. But it is not going to help. I was still B-grade and they did not accept me.

So I want them to know. When Swara Bhasker says that ‘I’m Sonam Kapoor’s best friend’, that’s not how the world perceives her. No! No matter how much Taapsee Pannu says that everybody loves her, and she has gotten equal opportunities, no! People do not perceive her as somebody who is an equal to an Alia Bhatt or Ananya Panday. No! So that’s what I try to convey — that no matter how much you try and fit in, you are not fitting in. If you are not seeing it, let me show you — in their world, you are still B-grade. I have been through those galis, I know where it goes! So that’s what I try to convey to them. If you think you are fitting in and now you have also become insiders, no, you’re not.
-------------------------------
In 2017, you and Sushant were being considered for a movie by Homi Adajania?
Yeah. I still remember that day when Homi called me to his office. I was about to step out and I was given the legal notice that Hrithik Roshan had sent me about criminal charges. In a dazed state, I went to Homi, and he narrated me a love story and I could not just focus on it because I was so shattered. I told him I would revisit it, but nobody knew my state of mind. After that, for one year, the kind of filth that I faced, the kind of butchering that I faced, I didn’t sign any film that year, but I vaguely remember that story. It was a love story about an urban couple.

When this whole thing happened, it occurred to me that if I had done that film, would our lives have been different now? I don’t know. I just don’t know. It is so unfortunate at so many levels. Would I be his friend and would I have given him a perspective for not longing for acceptance? I don’t know what I would do on finding such an amazing person.

That was so unfortunate and this makes me feel so bad. Had I done that film, what would our lives be, I don’t know. I can only think about it.

The actress talks to BT about the current content space, and how the dynamics could be different post lockdown
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 27, 2020)

Last week, Kangana Ranaut released a video, which showcased a poem penned by her called Aasmaan. The actress, who featured in the video and shot it herself, used sky as a metaphor for emotions and perceptions. Last year, Kangana, who made her foray into direction as the co-director of Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, announced that she would be backing an ambitious project titled Aparajitha Ayodhya as a producer. The film would have rolled out towards the end of 2020, if the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic hadn’t put a speed breaker in its path.

When we asked about her plans to direct a full-length feature film again, the actress told BT, “We will see how cinema and theatre business goes and where we stand post the lockdown. I got huge success as an artiste. I have established myself as a content creator and launched my production house this year. I understand that the digital space is becoming big. Do I have to now look at a future as a content creator because that medium is for actors, not superstars? I’d say that it’s a different medium, and these things will be evaluated in due course. I am comfortable being a big star who gets seetis, and a content creator who works behind the scenes. Right now, I am also not certain which medium I would make content for. Films were quite dramatic when they were meant for theatres alone, but with the changing dynamics, we can’t say how content will shape up. It’s early to decide which way to go.”

She added, “As a creative person, I feel there is still a lot for me to achieve and learn. Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi gave me a different kind of success. If I was just an actor who came from a small town and became a star, I would be anxious with the theatrical business running into quandary at the moment. My stardom came at a high price and I have created all of this myself. I have my own company today, and I was on my way to make Aparajitha Ayodhya, and I am open to wherever life decides to take me from this point onwards.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 20, 2020)

Kangana Ranaut, who is spending the Coronavirus lockdown with her family in Manali, has been penning poems these days. Recently, she recited one of them, titled Aasmaan, and even shot a video for it at her beautiful home in Manali. In a chat with BT, the actress spoke about what drew her to pen her thoughts and how her extended stay around the mountains is making her reflect on her journey so far. Excerpts:

What inspired you to write and share this poem?
I have been writing poems since I was 15 years old. I thought this is a time when I can share what I have written, with the hope that it helps people during the lockdown. I wrote this poem a few days ago and shared it because I feel it is relevant to the times we are in. On the surface, it’s about love, but deep within, it’s about perceptions.

What is the idea behind the video that you have shot?
A lot of people speak, write and understand Hindi, but people in some parts of the country, who understand the language, don’t necessarily speak, read or write it. So, I decided to recite the verses I had written. Also, I was missing the atmosphere of a shoot. My assistant, Rizwan, is here with me. I made a call sheet, with time allocated for hair, make-up and steam-ironing clothes. We pretended to be like a little unit working on a set. It was a good change to be able to shoot things the way I wanted to because there were no commercials involved.

This is possibly one of your longest stays in Manali after you became an actor. How have you made use of the time you are spending in the beautiful home that you built for yourself a few years ago?
Yes, this is among my longest stays here, and I am enjoying it. This year, I complete 15 years of living in Mumbai, and now I feel more like a Maharashtrian. I had lost touch with the mountains that I grew up around — given the tremendous struggle that I have been through, working incessantly and mentally never being on a break. In my journey, I never took the time out to sit back and think about things. It was a crazy marathon that I was running. While being in Manali, I got a chance to introspect and reflect upon everything that has happened in my journey so far. The lockdown is quite strict here, but my house is in the green zone, so I do get a chance to move around a little and revisit the places that I used to go to when I lived here.

Do you plan to share more poems and videos?
I am a professional artiste, and I want to keep something for commercial purposes, too. The verses can become a poem, a song or the thought behind a film. You can do a lot on social media for people, but you can’t bring it all out there. For some of it, people have to wait and watch.

En-route to losing the 20 kilos she had gained for her next film, Kangana on withdrawal symptoms, and missing her heels
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; April 29, 2020)

We don’t expect the usual Kangana Ranaut candour in an interview largely about how many squats she packs into her regimen. But the actor isn’t one to offer the ordinary.

Unbowed by the heft of her battle against the bulge, Ranaut is playfully self-deprecating when chronicling her 20-kilo weight-loss attempt.

“I didn’t expect to gain 20 kilos,” she says of her endeavour to emulate J Jayalalithaa in the actor- politician’s upcoming biopic, Thalaivi.

“When Kareena [Kapoor Khan] was pregnant, she gained 16 kilos. I told myself, I am like [a] post-pregnant Kareena Kapoor!” she exclaims at one point, before breaking into a laugh. “I never remember feeling so unfit. At one point, I needed to support myself with my palms to stand up off the floor,” she says at another, before the ever-so-slight quiver in her voice reveals the moments that triggered her badly.

“I was unable to carry my weight in heels, and that almost left me in tears. One thinks they’ll eventually adjust, but, I couldn’t walk in my own shoes! Usually, I can run in them, but now my feet would swell. I didn’t know how to handle it.”

Train, but gain
The diligence with which she had kept tabs on the weighing scale as it climbed by 10, 12 and 15 kilos was rendered redundant after a few weeks of lull. “[The makers] told me to start losing weight so that we could shoot [Jayalalitha’s] younger portions, and that’s when I noticed that I had gained 20 kilos. I wondered if I had gone too far, and questioned if the decision to take the hormone injections was appropriate.”

It was towards the close of 2019 that Ranaut had first admitted to leaning on hormone supplements to add bulk to her hips and thighs, to emulate her muse. Unlike the misshapen built acquired by Bollywood’s top brass of actors gaining weight for cinema, Ranaut’s avatar, though voluptuous, had to resemble the shapely and nimble-footed bharatnatyam dancer that Jayalalitha was. “I had to do bharatnatyam for two hours, yoga for one, and still gain weight in a desirable manner. The mild hormone dosage helped [me] gain weight around the hips. Bharatnatyam involves a lot of leg work, so the dancers tend to [gain weight in this region]. Also, I needed to put on so much weight because I am tall. At 5’ 8", I had to ensure that the [bulk] was visible on my frame.”

Winning the race, slowly, steadily
Currently nestled in picturesque Manali, Ranaut decided to make the most of the lockdown by taking along her trainer of several years. Under the guidance of Siddhartha Singh, founder of iSweat, she has shaved off seven kilos, and continues to crawl, jump and jog off the rest. “We are focusing on workouts that encourage movement for a long duration of time, instead of those involving shorter intervals. The idea is to keep movements sustainable by not rendering her breathless, so that more calories can be burnt. The evening functional training sessions last 45 to 75 minutes, and are coupled with a 20-minute morning walk in her 100-metre driveway,” says Singh, attributing her body’s positive response to the regimen to her consistent yoga practice.

Her high metabolic rate may afford her many luxuries, but Ranaut won’t abuse what she has been blessed with. For as long as Singh can recall, she isn’t swayed by food that has little nutritional value, and prefers “home-cooked meals”. “Kangana is attuned to her body’s [nutritional] needs. If she craves something, she’ll have it in limited portion, or cook a [healthier] version of it at home.”

That her body had become complacent with the additional weight also began to work against her, making the weight-loss process more demanding than both she and Singh had anticipated. “It was difficult. I had to undergo detox. I was affected by the sugar withdrawal, and felt like I was in rehab. For over six months, I was perpetually hungry, and had mood [swings]. The weight wouldn’t budge. Also, at 33, things are not as easy [as they were when I was younger].”

Asked if she will do it all over again if a film demands it, her response is prompt, but not very assertive: “No, yaar!” she says. “It’s not worth it. My cholesterol level was quite high this time. In my 30s, I don’t enjoy doing this.”

Singh on principles he uses to train Ranaut
- We’re targeting the anterior and posterior muscles at once. We use the driveway to do short jogging sets, shuttle lunges, back crawls, and jumping jacks.

- Usually, I avoided exhausting her because actors have to work for the rest of the day, and can’t be dealing with aches and pains. I had to be mindful of not targeting the muscles that she would be using for her action films, like Manikarnika.

For instance, horse-riding employs a lot of leg work, and hence, when she was learning it, I’d only do weight-less leg workouts with her. Similarly, when she was training in sword- fighting, and using her upper-body muscles, I’d have to shift focus away from her shoulders and arms [in the gym].

- With physical activity currently limited, she is consuming only two to three meals a day. The morning jogs that she takes help in activating her metabolism.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; January 21, 2020)

She took to the battlefield as the braveheart Queen of Jhansi, and now, with the slice-of-life sports drama, Panga, Kangana Ranaut is all set to up her game. And this time with jumps, dives, skill and tact on the playing field. In the film, she plays a 32-year-old mom, who chases her dream to be a kabaddi player. Much like the Kangana we know, who dares to dream big and fight every hurdle along the way. In a chat with BT, she talks about her real-life pangas, precious relationships and her idea of an ideal partner. Read on...

There is a song in Panga with inspiring lyrics, which says, Man ki jo sune, hai wohi changa. Lele, Lele Panga. Is that the mantra you live by?
I think so, and I would like to believe that I only listen to my heart and what I feel is right. I left home at an early age, so I didn’t have any overpowering figure in my life — a father figure or anyone else like that. I started working at 17, so I have taken panga since that age. Even back then, I did what my heart told me to. It could probably be the most immature thing to do, but I still did it. I thought, why should I pretend to be someone else? Why should my reactions be like my father’s or anyone else’s whose experiences are different from mine?

So, you have taken responsibility for all your choices and decisions, right or wrong...
Yes, always! When I left home, it was a very decisive moment in my life, because there was obviously a feeling like… what if it doesn’t work out. But then, I told myself…Whatever the consequences are, deal with it alone. Your parents didn’t sign up for this, so don’t turn around and go back to them’. It is not that my parents would object if I went back, but I knew that, hereon, I have to take 100% responsibility for whatever happens in my life. I have seen hard days; there were days when I slept hungry, and my parents could have easily afforded a meal for me, but I didn’t go back. I felt that it was unfair. I had chosen a path, so I had to figure it out and stick by it. Over the course of time, it becomes your second nature. You become that person.

When Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (director) approached you with this film, you were going through a difficult time in your life. So, what convinced you to take on this role, knowing that the project will be very demanding?
Ashwiny met me during a dramatic phase of my life. In my mind, I had completed Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi (2019), but I got to know that the studio was not okay with the film and wanted to bring another director on board. Eventually, I took over. I left a film called Imli and was also toying with the idea of not doing Panga. At that time, I thought I was not in the headspace to do this film, but Ashwiny told me that she would help me through it. I was shooting two units and would sometimes land on the Panga set, thinking, ‘Where am I?’ It was very unlike me. I was so lost, and she helped me through it. She is one of the most organised people I know, and her homework is on point. We both are very passionate about our work and operate from a place where we are on our own.

Panga focuses on how a supportive family can play a huge role in helping you achieve your dreams, however implausible they might seem. Your family is a big support in your life, likewise, you are like a rock-solid support system for them, too, right?
I have seen both the sides. I have also seen how miserable your life can be without your family. Initially, when I started out, my family did not support me and that was probably the worst phase of my life. Even though at that age I must have felt… to hell with them, over time, I realised that there are only those many people in the world who will be there with you all along. That’s when I decided to mend my relationship with them and be close to them, because the distance had become way too much. I wanted to nurture our relationship and have people around me, who I could share my life with. That’s precisely what we are talking about in Panga, too, that building a relationship with your close ones is everyday work and a process. Even now, while my family and I are there for each other, we can’t take it for granted. We have to work on it and invest in it emotionally, every day. I also think that I could go back and mend my relationship with them because of my success.

Could you explain that?
It would have been very unfortunate if I was not successful, because the kind of person that I am, it would have been difficult for me to mend the relationship. I am not someone who is good with failures, especially when I am dealing with people. When I fail, it does not change my perception of me, but when I look into people’s eyes and see their perception shift, I can’t take it. I completely block myself out and don’t meet anyone. I don’t think that it is anyone’s business to judge me like that. I am sure that I would not have gone back to my family if I had failed, because of my own ego, no matter how much they would have tried to help me. I am sure that I would have made a different life for myself. I am not here for people’s drama, with anyone throwing lines at me like, ‘Kaha tha humne tumhe (laughs!).’ I wouldn’t let anyone do that to me. Now, at least I can say, ‘Maine kaha tha tumko…’

You recently said that after seeing the relationship that Ashwiny and her filmmaker husband, Nitesh Tiwari share, you feel that marriage is not such a bad idea, after all? What are your reservations about marriage?
When you have so much going for yourself, you tend to get thoughts like… ‘The world needs me, why should I belong to one person (laughs!)?’ Also, with time, you can become compulsively independent in the way you live your life and operate, and the way you create your personal space. Then, marriage seems like a trap. When you are functioning better on your own, than with a partner, then, marriage doesn’t make sense, right? As partners, you should function doubly better. I see that Rangoli (sister) and her husband function well with each other. Emotionally, financially and spiritually, I should do better with my partner than I am doing on my own. If two people are doing doubly well together in these aspects, I am open to marriage. Even if it does not double up, it should not bring me down from where I am. I can see how Ashwiny and Nitesh function beautifully together and enhance each other. They are raising a lovely family together. When I see that, I think, ‘Okay, this works. This is how it should be.’

Panga also highlights an important thought in the context of our society — that a woman has no reason to stop dreaming and pursuing her dreams irrespective of her stage (marriage, motherhood) in life. While there has been a huge change in urban India, do you think films like these will bring such conversations into focus in smaller towns of our country?
A mother is the person who is most taken for granted in the family. When we were growing up, we didn’t know where the food came from, when the utensils were cleaned and how we got freshly laundered clothes every day. Everything was functional because of my mom. When I started running my own house, I had a team of four people doing all the work, and yet, it seemed a lot. My mom would do so much more for us, all by herself. We start believing that our mothers don’t have emotional needs or dreams of her own. Now, my when my mom opens to me, I can see that she is so vulnerable, and she has always been this way, but we didn’t see it. That is what should change with the film — we need to humanise our mothers; we most often don’t do that. Jaya (my character) is so much my mother, I dedicate this film to her.

How was your equation with your on-screen husband, Jassie Gill? While talking to BT, he said, ‘Mujhe bada dara ke bheja tha set pe, lekin jaisa suna tha waisa kuch hua nahi’. The film also boasts of some fabulous actors like Richa Chadha and Neena Gupta. How was the energy on the set with so many fabulous actors?
Even Ashwiny would get calls where someone would tell her, ‘She (Kangana) will destroy your film’. Jassie would get calls saying, ‘Tumhe toh bhagwan bachaye’. I think these are petty games that people play. It’s a bubble that bursts, because within 12 months, I am releasing two-three films. So, I don’t think that too many people believe in this narrative. Jassie is multi-talented, he is a fabulous singer, too. A director’s energy translates on to the entire set. Ashwiny was so homely and positive that it rubbed off on all of us. Even with someone like Richa, we may have different political beliefs, but that does not come in the way while working. The realm of art is such that it rises above political beliefs. I was the happiest to know that Javed Akhtar sir is writing the lyrics. For me, it is an honour to be working with him, even though our political ideologies are different. When I become a producer, I will pledge to never be coloured by any prejudices or people’s personal choices. Whether it is your belief, sexuality, colour or caste…how does it matter and why should it matter when you are working on a film? That is the kind of standard and behaviour I stand up for.

Initially, there were stories about Ashwiny and you not getting along, but she cleared those rumours and even says that today, you both are close friends and there are no pretenses whatsoever…
Personally, I feel that most people I work with and have an equation with, are 100% sweet on my face, but then they talk differently when they go into the media space. I never expected Ashwiny to speak so highly of me, because I have learnt this lesson in the industry that if you are an outsider, it suits their narrative to talk about you in a certain way. Even Ashwiny was surprised to see how some people met me so warmly, but behind my back they were different people. She comes from such a positive place that there were never any insecurities with her.

Kangana Ranaut on why marriage is not a compulsion right now, the struggle to rehabilitate sister Rangoli Chandel after an acid attack and how nepotism can only end with action, not empathy
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 20, 2020)

Your upcoming film, Panga, is about surmounting hurdles and pursuing dreams. For a small-town girl with no godfather in the film industry, how difficult was it for you to chase after a Bollywood dream?
It wasn’t all that difficult for me because I left home when I was only 15. And the minute I broke away, I could breathe freely and operate like a single, independent entity. There was no explaining to parents, no listening to the bitter city experiences of family elders and no societal pressures tying me down. I could take risks, telling myself that the worst thing that could happen was failure and I was ready for the consequences. It was harder for my character, Jaya Nigam, because as a mother she couldn’t abandon her child or walk away from her marriage. But at 30, she wants to chase her dream of being a kabaddi player because dreams are not limited by age. For me, it was an insight into a life very different from mine, where it was important for the family to understand that this woman, till now, has only given, and expected nothing in return. Jaya doesn’t have a choice. She has to raise a family but is unwilling to compromise on this dream. She has to strike a balance between the two, and that’s how it should be. Today, fortunately for me, I’ve got my family back. But I know that somewhere success had a huge role to play in the reconciliation. Had I not made it in films, I might have lost out on both my family and my dream, and that would have been devastating.

Alone, in a big, heartless city with no family support; how terrifying was it for the teenager Kangana?
Well, I fell into bad company straightaway. Some people took advantage of the fact that I was alone and couldn’t confide in my parents, and I’ve experienced the worst a person can go through. It toughened me up and made me the person I am. But I wouldn’t want my children to go through such extremes. I would want to be there for them.

Marriage and children, is that a dream now?
When I was in my 20s, I was desperate for a family. I felt incomplete and thought my own people would make me feel complete. With time, I have come to realise that this is not true. So, right now there’s no compulsion to be a wife and a mother. I’m at a phase when I’m just beginning to enjoy my life. If someone can add to it, I’m fine, but if, as a woman, I am expected to ensure he’s emotionally stable, enhance his spiritual growth, be lucky and bring him financial windfalls and take on the responsibility of a home, children and family, then, I’m not up for that. At the moment, I have no time for people who come with any kind of baggage.

Why not?
Well, for the longest time, we’ve been emotionally scarred by what happened to my sister Rangoli (Chandel) after the acid attack. It took a long time, but finally, she is happy, with a child all of us dote on. Her husband’s business is doing well and my mamma, who was grappling with some health issues, is fully recovered. Also, the half-a-dozen cases filed against me have been dismissed as the allegations couldn’t be proved. My brother Akshit and I have just launched a production house and we’re starting from scratch, we aim to do some good work. This is a wonderful time for all of us; I’ve never felt so good. The world is respectful; there’s a lot to do and give. And for the first time, I can think about myself. Let me be a little self-centered and enjoy what I have earned. I don’t have the time and energy to invest in another family. That can come later.

Have you seen Chhapaak, in which Deepika Padukone played an acid attack survivor?
No, with my own film, Panga, coming up, I haven’t had the time but I will watch it for sure.

How difficult was it to deal with the acid attack on Rangoli?
It was horrific! You are hurt if your loved one gets even a scratch or a pimple, so, you can imagine the kind of pain one would feel to see their face melt. Outward appearance is far more important to a woman than a man, and taking that away from her is a fool-proof way of isolating her from the world. I was just 19, on the threshold of a bright career, when the attack happened and it was a long, hard struggle to deal with this kind of perverse, sexist cruelty. Financially too, I was not strong back then. Girls around me would feel depressed by a bad hair day or because a meal was not to their liking. I was grappling with something far more real and yet had no time to sit and cry. I did tacky films, took on roles I did not deserve, accepted guest appearances, so my sister could be treated by the best surgeon in India. It took 54 surgeries.

Your mentor, Anurag Basu, recently described you as a strong, ambitious girl and says he’s proud of where you have reached.
Anurag is my godfather. He just picked me, auditioned me and gave me a break. There were people around, like Gangster producer Mahesh Bhatt, who wanted Chitrangda Singh, because he thought I was too young to play the mother of a five-year-old kid. He was right, too, because I was still a minor then. But Anurag believed in me and fought for me.

He also worked a lot on me. I was a theatre actor, but Anurag didn’t want me to act. He wanted me to surrender myself to the camera. The foundation of my acting, which is strong, subtle, natural and universally appealing, comes from him. I will always be building on that. He’s one of the best directors we have and I have only taken from him, not added anything to his life. I hope someday I get the chance to give something back, too. I feel a karmic connection with Anurag and I’m sure we are going to collaborate again and create some great work.

Pooja Bedi’s daughter Alaya F, who debuts as Saif Ali Khan’s daughter in Jawaani Jaaneman, recently said that being a star kid “we are privileged even in our struggles”. As someone who brought the term nepotism to the fore, what do you feel about this disparity in the industry?
One day I was thinking that as a star kid, what would it take to empathise with an outsider and say we understand the exploitations they go through. The important thing is not just to imagine but also empathize and work towards ending the culture of exploitation of outsiders from a position of power.

You’ve started your own company and you are in a position of power today. Will you put an end to this nepotism culture?
I think nepotism is completely based on the fact that people, who are not as deserving, get a chance, as opposed to those who deserve it. Because of such practices, most people are lagging behind. I will always go for the person who is best suited for the job, that’s the basis of my work ethics. I want the best for my project, without personal gains or emotional pressures. I’ll be doing myself a favour working with deserving people.

Panga will be your second Republic Day release after Manikarnika last year...
Yes, Republic Day has been lucky for me and I hope that continues. The ability to keep the family together while retaining her individuality is something a mother does so wonderfully. And I’m grateful to Ashwiny (Iyer Tiwari, Panga director) for giving me the opportunity to live this role and experience.

Thalaivi actor Kangana Ranaut discusses gaining weight to play Jayalalithaa, employing prosthetics for features that her transformation couldn't address
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 25, 2019)

Netizens didn't exactly go gaga over Kangana Ranaut's first look as Jayalalithaa in the late actor-politician's upcoming biopic, Thalaivi. But Ranaut is a picture of calm as she addresses questions on her commendable transformation in A L Vijay's directorial venture.

"[When aping a person for cinema], actors usually get the apparel and appearances on point, but not the physical transformation. Vijay wanted me to resemble her as closely as possible. She [Jayalalithaa] endured a drastic physical transformation in her life. Having grown up as a Bharatanatyam dancer, she had an hour-glass figure. Then, when she joined politics, she had an accident which demanded that she be injected with huge doses of steroids. While we could not depict all of that, we did take measures [to resemble her during these phases]."

Having previously spoken about her struggle to gain weight, Ranaut says that for this film, she put on six kilos. "That was needed so as to look voluptuous, especially around the belly and thighs. Since I am tall and skinny, and my face is angular, not round, I had to take mild doses of hormone pills to look different. Of course, I also started eating foods that promote weight gain."

For the features that the pills couldn't address, Ranaut sought aid from Jason Collins, who has worked on the prosthetics for big-ticket Hollywood actioners like Blade Runner 2049 and Captain Marvel. "His team made a structure that was suitable to make me look voluptuous. During the portions showcasing her as a young politician, we aimed to only make my face look fuller. As for the rest of the body, it took the team seven hours each day to acquire the look. The hands had to be re-done, and different kinds of pads were used for different parts of the body."

But even as the makers worked diligently to address the physical nitty-grittys, Ranaut, as vociferous as she is, knew that it was acquiring Jayalalithaa's soft-spoken demeanour that would be the toughest feat to achieve. "She was strong-willed; I am fiery. Acquiring her demeanour [was a challenge]. It's a body language that I am being introduced to for the first time."

Kangana Ranaut - controversy's favourite child - on tussles with the media, social media wars courted by sister, calling out wrongdoers and mixing nationalism in arguments
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; July 28, 2019)

Not one to suffer silently, Kangana Ranaut believes in facing things head-on. After an ugly public spat with a scribe, she sits down with mid-day to explain explain why a personal squabble became a public brawl. The actor, who just released Judgementall Hai Kya, talks about the controversies she courts, mixing personal issues with nationalism and trying to not succumb to public pressure.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

You have, in the past, brazenly called out your colleagues from the industry. Why did you feel the need to pick on a journalist?
People believe money is equivalent to power but I don't think so. If you can influence hundreds, that gives you power. Media is not interested in reporting real issues about environment, water harvesting or social issues. Media refuses to cover events when it is about planting trees or social work because according to them, 'Isme masala nahi hai. Yeh nahi bikta hai. [There is no meat in the news and it won't sell]'. That hurts.

You could have called the journalist and had a private discussion, like you've done in the past. How did this tussle escalate so much?
I am thick-skinned enough to take a joke on myself. I never felt bad when I was being trolled for my English or criticised for a bad performance. Recently, Shobhaa De wrote something about my film, I messaged and asked her when she was going to watch it. I don't voluntarily get into fights, that's not who I am. After the success of Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, we invited the media home for an interaction and the journalist in question [reporter from PTI] was also present. He created a scene because according to him I was late. I asked my manager if I was tardy and was informed that the journalist had just arrived. He refused to talk when I reached out to him. There has been a furore over this one event, which was designed to be candid. Journalists asked me questions like 'Tum mental ho kya? [Are you mental?]' and 'Ye mental wala role would come naturally to you. [Does the role in the film come naturally to you?]' When you remove one clip from an hour long discussion, it would seem like I am at fault. I told the journalist, 'Tum toh dushman ban gaye humare and so on'. I haven't crossed any line and my intention was never to shame him or make him a national villain. I am aware of the consequences my actions can have and hence, I am responsible. At the same time, I don't want him to pin me down on a stage.

You referred to his comments on social media. Isn't an individual entitled to his or her opinion?
It is not a criminal offence to have an opinion, to make fun or mock someone on social media, but then, do not expect respect. If I was a lousy actor, do you think anyone would have given heed to my issues?

It is often observed that you mix personal issues with nationalism.
I don't think so. It didn't bother me when he trolled me on a personal level, but when you mock a martyr [Rani Lakshmibai] it becomes a matter of national concern. Everyone has the right to criticise, but there is decorum to do it. You cannot make a joke about national heroes. How am I living up to my reputation, if despite being a public figure I don't call out people when they do something wrong? Actors have guidelines and are crucified for saying the wrong thing, then why are journalists exempt from it.

Saying 'no comments' is always an option, don't you think you could have avoided this controversy/person if you had not engaged in it?
I could have said, 'I won't answer your question', but that would involve explaining to everyone, 'why'. And when I tried to explain, he started an argument. You have to shake people, up who've lost perspective, especially when you've had a personal rapport with them. I won't feel the need to call out a person, who is incapable of their work. It only comes for a person who I feel has the potential. The media has always been supportive and I know they don't dislike me. However, you cannot deny that there are journalists working under the diktat of other celebrities and public relations agency to tarnish my image. I don't think I have done anything wrong by calling them out. In fact, I am standing up for things that could be a detriment to my career, but I will always do so when I know I am right. Personally, I wear my individuality with a lot of ease but I know several actors have a manufactured image.

There is a perception that you dictate your sister Rangoli Chandel on what to tweet. Is there any truth to it?
No, she does it on her own. She is into social media and keeps track of news and what other celebrities have said. She does consult me when she writes about my colleagues and the industry, and at times I censor them (laughs).

During every film release, the topic of discussion revolves more around the controversy rather than your work. Do you feel people no longer wish to talk about your work?
It is a deliberate strategy, which also happened during Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015). I had planned preview shows for my friends and colleagues in the industry but no one showed up. Isn't that insulting? Back then I had said, 'these young actors feel threatened to come and watch my film'. People said my performance was the best double role but no one from the industry appreciated it. We all know who won the Best Actress award that year [Deepika Padukone for Piku]. These things don't happen organically and that is precisely what I am fighting for. Is it uncommon for a filmmaker to leave a film mid-way for other commitments? Manikarnika is the third highest grossing women-centric film that has garnered over Rs 150 crore worldwide, but it was beautifully concealed by a section of the media.

After Effects Of The Media Fight
When asked if the tussle with media out her in an odd spot with producer Ekta Kapoor and co-star Rajkummar Rao, she said, she doesn't talk on their behalf. "I am sure it's a little unsettling for everyone as they don't know my history with the journalist. They have been co-operative and noticed that it was a deliberate attempt to create a stir."

Kangana Ranaut shares with BT her thoughts on Mental Hai Kya’stitle being changed to Judgemental Hai Kya,why the change was incorporated and the reason she attended the screening held for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; June 30, 2019)

After much discussion and thought, the title Mental Hai Kya has been changed. Your thoughts?
We are glad to get another perspective from the CBFC. They didn’t ask for any cuts as such, the word mental is being replaced and that’s the only change. They felt that the word ‘mental’ could come across as harsh to people who may be battling mental illness. Apparently, you can’t even call it mental illness. It should just be called, illness. The guidelines are clear. I think the word mental was banned last year. They have a long list of dos and don’ts and we are more than happy to be educated on this front and to incorporate the changes. We are also happy that the CBFC has fast-tracked this case, because we are so close to the release date. This will help us launch our promos and kickstart our activities around the film on time. We are definitely changing the title, but it has to be something that sounds similar because the movie shouldn’t lose its personality. There’s already a buzz that’s generated and marketing money that has been invested. Hence, it will be something like the previous title.

The makers have announced that the film is now renamed, Judgemental Hai Kya…
Since the protagonist’s name is Bobby, we were wondering if we go could back to it. This film was originally called Bobby (that was the working title), but we realised it wasn’t giving anyone a glimpse into what the subject is all about. There was also a discussion if we can retitle it as, ‘Bobby Mental Hai Kya’ or ‘Bobby Crazy Hai Kya?’ We didn’t choose any of these. Bobby felt like a different film altogether. Big money has been invested on marketing the film, so why let it all go down the drain? There were also funny suggestions like, ‘Sentimental Hai Kya’. They were not okay with ‘Temperamental Hai Kya’ either, as it suggested that people who fight illnesses may have a bad temperament. So, I guess settling for Judgemental Hai Kya is a good idea, as it doesn’t rub anyone the wrong way.

You were part of screening held for the CBFC that happened a few days ago. Not many actors are involved in this aspect of a film’s journey. What made you take this initiative?
There is a lot of hoopla about how I take responsibility for my films, but nobody talks about how I see them through. No matter what kind of ups and downs my films go through, I take complete onus of them. Which actor will sit for six hours in a discussion (with the CBFC) and try to make things work? I did it for Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi as well. Ekta Kapoor and Jeetu sir (Jeetendra), the makers, told me, “It is extraordinary how you take complete responsibility of your film. Nobody would do that. We are impressed.” Sometimes people can look at the positive aspects also. It’s a selfless act. I also saw Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi through. I directed that film and had a long discussion with the Censor Board back then, as well. I have immense respect for the CBFC as a government body. There was this hoopla going on about censorship and other films, where people were behaving like victims. I was the first one to say that you cannot completely disregard a government body. I meant that. I went there (attended the screening) to ensure things don’t spiral into something that will bring disrespect to either party.

Did you accept the change immediately or was there any healthy debate and discussion on why the title should be changed?
There was no bad blood. Our point was that the term ‘mental’ is part of textbooks. Be it mental disorders, mental illness or mental asylum. If you go by the meaning in the dictionary, the word mental is related to the brain. The slang that people use for ‘mental’ isn’t a part of the dictionary, but it has been incorporated in the list of dos and dont’s by the psychiatrists. You cannot use the word ‘mental’ as a slang. When they put this point across, we were trying to negotiate. But given the sensitivity of the topic, we decided to change the title.

NOW, IT’S JUDGEMENTAL HAI KYA
Meanwhile, the official spokesperson of Balaji Motion Pictures, said, “Given the sensitivity attached to the issue and our intention of not offending or hurting anyone’s sentiments, we have decided to change the title of our film Mental Hai Kya to Judgemental Hai Kya.The film will hit theatres on July 26, and it has been cleared with a U/A certification and minor changes, which we are happy to comply with.”

Kangana Ranaut on ‘nepotism gangs’ launching ‘smear campaigns’ against her, why her sister is on social media with guns blazing while she isn’t, and plans to kick off an action film shortly
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 15, 2019)

After the sartorial rigours of the Cannes Film Festival, Kangana Ranaut headed home in Manali for some downtime. On the work front, the actress is gearing up for the release of Prakash Kovelamudi’s Mental Hai Kya, which reunites her with her Queen co-star Rajkummar Rao. Then, there’s Panga, her first project with Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, which she will resume shooting for next month. In this conversation, the actress opens about work, family and outliving ‘smear campaigns’. Excerpts:

How is it going in Manali?
It’s been a while since I came here. I was here briefly for New Year’s... me directing Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi was unexpected and it took time as it was a massive project. Then, I jumped into Mental Hai Kya and Panga. After Cannes, I found myself tired all the time from travelling and the kabaddi matches that I was shooting for Panga in night shifts. The quality of air and water in Manali is so amazing, you recover quickly.

You aren’t on social media but your sister Rangoli Chandel has been making news by standing up for you during controversies…
When Rangoli was in Mumbai, she wanted her social environment to be pleasant, she has a family and her husband was working in the city at the time. Now, she has no f**ks to give and I like that kind of freedom. I don’t sit on her head and tell her what she should say. She is her own person and she has quietly observed all these industry people. Being an ostrich, keeping our eyes shut, has not helped us at all. So now she is completely at it. (laughs)

Any plans to make your own social media debut?
There are so many problematic things in the world and I’m a very conscious person, I’m very aware. I don’t want to be on social media and be bothered about problematic things that social media doesn’t provide solutions for. I can’t invest so much time on something that doesn’t deal with an issue. Rangoli says that people have taken advantage of my absence on the social media. She says that though I have helped people build hospitals and gifted a Rs two-and-half-crore flat to my yoga teacher, nobody knows about these things as I don’t talk about it. Sometimes she makes videos of me to share online. I find it funny, but she feels it’s important. In my past relationships I never made videos and even that went against me... Today, everything must be proved with photos and videos. How do I become a person who records and documents everything, so no one questions me tomorrow? I can’t live like that, it’s strange.

Recently, Rangoli also revealed on Twitter that Hrithik Roshan’s sister, Sunaina, has been calling both of you.
It is true that Sunaina and I were always good friends and so was her family. Now they claim differently. Yes, she has been in touch with me, but I don’t want to take advantage of her family dispute. Sunaina is still a friend but I will not hit somebody when they are down.

When do you resume work on Panga?
We will first release Mental Hai Kya. Prakash Kovelamudi is a new director but is good at his job. For Panga, I will be shooting the last of my portions in seven days next month.

What about Jayalalitha biopic Thalaivi?
That film will be in Hindi and Tamil and we begin by the year-end in Chennai. After that I am doing an action film that I will announce soon. Following that I will begin work on my next directorial (first being Manikarnika).

Manikarnika has made it to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival…
It’s surprising because we never sent any entries to any film festival. We always thought the film is relevant to India, but it resonated with international audiences as well. When it released, I felt there were deliberate campaigns to kill it. Something like this validates the universal appeal of Manikarnika. So many people watched it but were hiding just because they didn’t want to speak about the film. Now, it seems like a sweet Cinderella story that has happened to us.

The film was mired in controversy. Your co-actors Mishti Chakraborty and Sonu Sood spoke negatively about you, and a video of you on a wooden horse was released.
I know who released that video. Two other actors of the nepotism gang were also learning horse-riding at the same place as me. They practised for one day and got so sore that they didn’t return. I was galloping and doing all sorts of stunts. The wooden horse was only used for close-up shots. Just because they cannot ride a horse they got jealous of me and released the video.

I rode a horse in Rangoon too, it’s not new for me. Mishti said she was asked to speak up, but who is making her speak? It’s all about ganging up against me. Sonu and I share a personal trainer. Again, situations were manipulated to force people to speak against me. Some trade experts were forced to show our film’s collections as half of the actual numbers. All the people who pretend that they don’t have PRs send the maximum number of mails against others. One smear campaign was started by Karan Johar’s gang against me by paying reviewers. When I talk about it, people think I sound like a loony character, but what option am I left with?