Kangana Ranaut calls a spade a spade, a trait that is arguably uncharacteristic in an industry that thrives on fawning and pandering. No wonder then, the actor has often found herself involved in controversies or spats with her colleagues. While her fans have lauded her for daring to take on men in power and being an icon of feminism, there have been those who have conveniently labelled her a man-hater.
Taking the accusation head-on at the Jagran Cinema Summit that was held yesterday in Mumbai, Ranaut said, "I am not a man-hater. In fact, I have more male friends than female ones."
The actor further pointed out that championing the cause of gender equality does not necessarily equate to bashing men. "I am not sure when I became a feminist. The whole perception of inequality and of one being inferior to the other is too bizarre for me to come to terms with. I can't understand it. Feminism is just indicative that the balance between genders is missing from the system, and it's a sorry state to be in."
Ranaut said that her 11-year-long journey in Bollywood has depicted how by and large, the system is biased towards men. "My journey [in the industry] is magical, but magic has its price. Lineage has been restricted within the males of the industry. There is a deep-rooted patriarchy. Showbiz is a fantasy land. It swings between extraordinary, fantastic and tragic."
Elaborating her point, she said, "Certain things are expected of men, but sneered upon when women do it. Consider their sexual lives for instance. Having sex is fun for a man, but for a woman, it's almost criminal. Such is the general perception of the glamour world. Men brag about their Casanova sons, but when it comes to their daughters, she can't be wearing a bikini. [It is okay if] 15 bikini-clad women are hovering around him and his son, but the daughter has to comply with feudal ideas."
Reflecting on her career so far, she spoke about the fleeting nature of success, saying by the time "you get used to success, it's gone." Tracing back to her debutante days, she revealed how her choices weren't appreciated by her near and dear ones. "When Gangster (2006) released, my mother was happy, but my father had his reservations. The depiction of passion [in the film] was unsettling for him."
Source: mid-day