Interview: I have ruined my relationship by rejecting roles with Salman, Akshay and Ranbir- Kangana Ranaut

Everyone knows how talented Kangana Ranaut is, but at the same time she is equally outspoken and bold. Be it acting or directing or expressing her opinion, she has always been determined. People also know her as the controversial queen, but she lives on her own terms. This actress, who has won many National Awards, is in the news these days for her new film ‘Emergency’. A candid meeting with her.

Be it the four National Awards for your roles or your political career, there are many proud moments, but what was the most difficult phase of your career?

– I think the initial years were very difficult for me, especially after I had done Gangster and Woh Lamhe. After that I did not get work. Fashion also happened, but there was a hope once in a while and then work stopped coming. There used to be a period of two years when I did not have work. I was very young. So many thoughts used to come to mind that should I complete my college studies? It may happen that I am neither here nor there. A girl like me, who comes from such a small village, who does not know English, who does not have any certificates and is trying to find her footing in this industry, then that phase was very difficult for me. That phase went on for years. Finally I took the decision that I am not interested in acting, something will happen. It was at that time that I directed my first film, that too at the age of 23.

Then I earned some money by doing small roles, then I went to America. There I did some screen writing work. I was hundred percent sure that I was not going to make it in acting. At that time typical films were made, which I did not even like. Then I made a short film of my own in California. There an agency hired me as a filmmaker. When I was working there, 7-8 years of my career was a long period of struggle. You are learning photography, learning direction, writing scripts. I did a film Queen to earn some money and see, that film did so well. But by then I had moved ahead in that journey. By then I was bitten by the bug of direction. I was not interested in acting properly. Directors started feeling that I do not value it, and this was true. Now when I did the film Emergency, then I got peace.

People glorify their struggles a lot

I believe in one thing that you think that something bad is happening to me, but there is definitely some good behind that bad. People of today’s generation think that they should get everything today itself. You do your work. Today’s generation wants the fruit first, whether they do their work or not. If I had kept this kind of thinking, then I would never have reached here in life. One should never get depressed. I used to think that if I am not getting acting, then I will do direction. If that is also not available, then I will do photography. Hey, if nothing else, then I will do labour work. I want this, I want that. Every day you make your list. This attitude of people has become bad.

You are called a determined girl as well as a rebel, so when did that transformation come in your life?

-There was nothing like transformation. I have been like this since childhood. When my film Gangster was released, I got a call from Shabana Azmi ji. Javed sahab (Akhtar) talked to me for 15 minutes. he/she said that we have not seen such a great artist and that too at such a young age. On one hand people praise you and on the other hand you do not have work for years, if someone else was in my place, he/she would have gone into depression. But I accepted that situation and to accept it you need humility that this is what it is, this is not happening. I will do whatever is best for me.

Talking about your film Emergency, what was it that inspired you to capture this phase of Indira Gandhi’s life?

I did not make this film in a way that if I had to make a film on emergency, I would make it. If you ask me what it was and what happened because of it? Emergency can be considered as a curfew. Nothing happened, that was the emergency. What happened? Nothing happened at all. So what kind of film will you make on something in which nothing happened. That is why no film was made on it. That is why I got interested in it. I read the biography of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ji, in which her guru said, end this, it is a good thing, it has turned the country into a prison.’ In response to this, what Mrs. Indira Gandhi ji said, her honesty impressed me a lot. She said, ‘I am riding a terrible monster and if I get off it now, it will eat me up. What were the reasons for emergency? What was its after effect, all these things have been culminated in this film, so emergency is its central point in the film. Much more than that, the mystery of Mrs. Gandhi inspired me a lot.

his/her supporters say that his/her golden side could also have been shown, his/her dark side was shown during the Emergency?

-You can make someone negative only when he/she is positive. Emergency is an important film because it shows that no matter how great a leader you are like Mrs Gandhi, arrogance never leaves anyone. It can make you a victim. And I have learnt a lot from this film. I don’t know why people are speculating that Mrs Gandhi’s good side is not being shown in this film. It is people’s habit to judge. I think people should wait for the release of the film.

You have said that you never took help from any Kapoor or Khan, so do you need courage to say no to those roles?

-That came when I became a little successful. After 8-9 years of struggle, I felt empowered. As far as heroes are concerned, I have always said. When Salman offered me a role in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, I told him/her, now after the double role in Queen, will you give me such a role? When he/she called for Sultan, I refused. he/she laughed and said, what else do you want now? he/she is my friend. he/she said nicely. Ranbir Kapoor came to my house. he/she said, I have spoken to Raju (director Rajkumar Hirani) for Sanju. I said, I don’t want to do it. he/she said, you don’t want to do a film with me? I said, you are having a misunderstanding about me. In fact, people in the industry became my enemies. I was not doing this for myself. Akshay Kumar ji offered me Sing is Bling. After that, one or two more films, but I did not do it, so he/she said, you have a problem with me Kangana. I said, Sir, I don’t have any problem. Then he/she said, then what? I said, women also have dignity. You also have a daughter. Please understand. I have ruined my relations. However, not everyone is like this. Salman is my friend. he/she doesn’t feel bad. I took these decisions for women, for a cause. Many people show me negatively, I also feel bad, but I have suffered personal loss in this.

Now you are in power. First the gruesome incident in Kolkata and then the molestation in Badlapur, what do you think should happen?

-I go numb just thinking about it. When a girl who left everything and worked in public service goes to study and this happens to her, then even the soul of humanity trembles. Such demonic incidents happen at every level in the country. Modi ji gave a speech from the Red Fort in 2014 and said, “When daughters leave the house, ten questions are asked: Where are you going? What time will you come? Whom will you meet? Which place are you going to?” If you ask these questions to your sons and keep them at home, not daughters, then you should ask sons. These questions are very valid. Whom are your sons meeting, whom are they befriending, what content are they watching, what are they involved in, are they drinking alcohol, all this goes out of your hands. But if your daughter wears shorts or a deep neck today, the whole neighborhood gets to know about it. So our culture and society, the industry people also make content carelessly, now see. Sanjay Leela Bhansali ji called me for an item number in Ramleela. I said, ‘I cannot do it. Whether Bhansali calls me or anyone else, I cannot do it.

‘Item number’ People said, she is crazy to refuse Bhansali. It is very important how we portray a woman. I did a very important episode of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ with Aamir Khan ji 10 years ago. We were talking about the same thing and we are talking about the same thing even today. What are we telling through songs like ‘Tandoori Murgi Hoon Yaar, Gutka Le Saiyan Alcohol Se’? The kind of patriotic films create chaos at the box office, one wonders where it is coming from. Clapping, whistles, boys are going out with axes and guns in the school, and no one is saying anything to them, nor is anyone stopping them. As if there is no police. Law and order is dead. There are heaps of dead bodies. Why? Fun! Neither is it good for anyone, nor is it for public welfare. Just fun and the public comes out to watch it. Look at the public too, what can you say about such a society? This is a matter of concern. Such films should be condemned. The media is also responsible for the appreciation that such people get. They should be condemned, they should be criticized.