Kangana Ranaut Defends Swara Bhasker’s 'Padmavat' Letter

Film actor Kangana Ranaut minces no words when it comes to issues. She is known to speak freely on women’s issues, feminism and discrimination in the male-worshipping Bollywood. And she did ‘speak her mind’ at a recent event organized by News 18. Kangana's words predictably made sparks fly.

The Queen-famed actor took the stage right at the beginning. She accidentally started speaking even before the moderator could ask her questions. Realizing her mistake, the actor made a joke about it and carried on with the discussion.

Kangana came out in support of her Bollywood counterpart Swara Bhasker who courted controversy after she wrote an open letter to 'Padmavat' director Sanjay Leela Bhansali after watching the movie. In the letter, she explained how she felt reduced to a vagina after the Jauhar scene at the end of the movie. Kangana defended Swara’s freedom of expression and expressed her contempt at how the trolls reacted to her letter.

Kangana said, “The way she was criticized, shamed and bullied was our loss as a society. Whenever a woman voices her opinion, it is her right. She is a legitimate artiste who has a right to speak her mind and it was a very well-written piece. I may not agree with it but there was something which pleased me at a very micro-level.”

ALSO READ: Swara Bhasker slams Sanjay Leela Bhansali for glorifying Jauhar in Padmaavat

She continued that writing is a process and it is amazing how she gathered her thoughts and put it out there.

“I am sure all the trolling does not affect Swara as she is a strong woman but millions of other women who have important stories to tell and precedents to set, what are we telling them?"- Kangana

“The kind of trolls that she received is heart-breaking,” added Kangana referring to tweets where the trolls harped on the fact that Swara played a prostitute in 'Anarkali of Arrah'.

The actor said, “I did not know where to look and where to be. I just wanted to melt and bury myself.”

She made a significant point about what happens when society shuts a woman’s voice. “I am sure all the trolling does not affect Swara as she is a strong woman but millions of other women who have important stories to tell and precedents to set, what are we telling them?" questions Kangana.

Kangana’s fiery attitude has always attracted all kinds of reactions ranging from love, respect to hatred and ridicule but one thing that defines the award-winning actor is her courage to speak up not just for herself but also for other women in her trade and that sets her apart.

More Stories by Poorvi Gupta