Kangana Ranaut has been named the queen of controversies, courtesy of her own remarks over the years. While Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Karan Johar are a few of her favorite topics, she has never taken a step back from commenting on others. Although she has been quite subtle lately and even settled her defamation case with Javed Akhtar, on Kangana Ranaut's birthday, here are a few of her most controversial statements. Calling Ranbir Kapoor a rapist Back in August 2020, Kangana shared a post that read, “Ranbir Kapoor is a serial skirt chaser but no one dares call him a rapist. Deepika is a self-proclaimed mental illness patient, but no one calls her a psycho or a witch. This name-calling is reserved only for extraordinary outsiders who come from small towns and humble families.” The Javed Akhtar vs Kangana Ranaut defamation case Recently, the two ended their five-year-long legal battle. It all started after Kangana, in an interview, said, “Once, Javed Akhtar called me to his house and told me Rakesh Roshan (father of Hrithik Roshan) and his family are very big people. If you don’t apologize to them, you will have nowhere to go. They will put you in jail, and eventually, the only path would be that of destruction… you will commit suicide. These were his words. He shouted and yelled at me. I was shaking in his house." The comment on India’s freedom At a news summit in 2021, Kangana said, "The freedom we got in 1947 was a 'bheekh' (alms), the citizens of India got real freedom in 2014." Calling Filmfare corrupt Once, the Queen actress took to her Instagram story and wrote, "I've banned unethical, corrupt, and totally unfair practices like @filmfare since 2014. But since I have been getting many calls from them for attending their award function this year as they want to give me an award for Thalaivii... I am shocked to know that they are still nominating me." Calling out Hrithik Roshan From calling Hrithik Roshan a silly ex to saying he refuses to move on from her, Kangana has made all sorts of statements against him. Once, she tweeted, “Duniya kahan se kahan pahunch gayi magar mera silly ex abhi bhi waheen hai usi modh pe jahan yeh waqt dobara laut ke nahi jane wala.” Meanwhile, when Hrithik filed a cybercrime case against her, she took to X and wrote, “His sob story starts again, so many years since our breakup and his divorce, but he refuses to move on, refuses to date any woman. Just when I gather courage to find some hope in my personal life, he starts the same drama again. @iHrithik kab tak royega ek chote se affair ke liye?” Kangana Ranaut on Karan Johar Kangana once appeared on Koffee with Karan accompanied by Saif Ali Khan. During the conversation, Kangana called Karan Johar the “flagbearer of nepotism.”
22 March,2025 10:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe rivalry between Kangana Ranaut and Karan Johar has been quite evident to everyone. Kangana had even called Karan Johar the flag bearer of nepotism once when she visited the Koffee with Karan couch alongside Saif Ali Khan. However, things were not always the same between the two. You might not believe it, but there was a time when Karan and Kangana were great friends, and she even once walked the ramp for the director! Throwback to when Kangana walked on ramp for Karan's collection and Karan showered praise on Kangana calling her a powerhouse actress and a fashionist!! Also, Kangana walks better than every Indian model I have ever seen!!by inBollyBlindsNGossip As Kangana Ranaut is all set to celebrate her birthday soon, here's a look back at the time when Karan Johar heaped praises on her. It was way back when Kangana turned showstopper for Vero Moda’s Marquee collection, designed by filmmaker Karan Johar, and left everyone stunned with her walk. This video of Karan praising Kangana has recently surfaced on social media. When Karan Johar praised Kangana Ranaut In the video, Karan can be seen saying, "Kangana is not a choice, she is the only choice. There is no list of options. Clearly, with her performance in 2014, she has a great amount of power in the fashion space. She is a powerhouse of fashion, a stylista, a fashionista, you know, but also a powerhouse actress. And I think today I say with great pride that she is truly one of the finest evolving actresses of the country." This video has caught the attention of many who are reacting to the viral old clip. One wrote, “Kangana walks better than every Indian model I have ever seen." "Kangana is also better than any Indian actor or model at dragging other actors, their kids, and their families. I remember when Kangana quoted Karan’s tweet about his kids with some hateful rant. She’s vile,” another commented. Kangana Ranaut’s work front Meanwhile, Kangana was recently seen in the film Emergency, which was released on January 17, 2025. The film revolves around the period of Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977, a controversial and transformative chapter in Indian political history. It also featured Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles. She has wrapped up shooting for her upcoming thriller with actor R. Madhavan. The film, directed by AL Vijay, marks the two actors' reunion after almost a decade since their 2015 hit, Tanu Weds Manu Returns. The film, which was announced in 2023, is said to be a pan-India thriller.
22 March,2025 10:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut celebrates her birthday on March 23. The BJP MP, who recently directed and acted in the film Emergency, once took a dig at Rani Mukerji’s performance in Black calling it no big deal. The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, narrates the story of Michelle (Mukerji), a deafblind woman, and her relationship with her teacher Debraj (Amitabh Bachchan), an elderly alcoholic teacher who later develops Alzheimer's disease. It draws inspiration from the life of Helen Keller, as well as the 1962 film based on her autobiography, The Miracle Worker. Kangana Ranaut on watching SLB’s Black On Mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist, Kangana recalled, "People around me from theatre were suggesting I do films, which I thought would be difficult. I went with my roommate Kamlesh, who was almost my mother's age. My roommate took me to watch Black and told me if we could act like that, we could also become like them. And I said, "I can do this. What's the big deal?" She was like, "Oh my god, look at you?" I said in theatre, we do this in one go. Here, you have to do it in segments; and if you mess up, you can do it again! I went back to my hostel and tried to enact [Rani Mukerji's character] before the mirror. And I knew I could definitely do this. That day, I found the confidence.” Kangana Ranaut’s work front Meanwhile, Kangana was recently seen in the film 'Emergency' which was released on January 17, 2025. The film revolves around the period of emergency declared by Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977, a controversial and transformative chapter in Indian political history. It also featured Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles. She has wrapped up shooting for her upcoming thriller with actor R Madhavan. The film, directed by AL Vijay, marks the two actors' reunion after almost a decade since their 2015 hit, Tanu Weds Manu Returns. The film, which was announced in 2023, is said to be a pan-India thriller.
22 March,2025 03:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 commenced with a new season, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) extended his best wishes to the team ahead of their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Dressed in a white T-shirt paired with denim, the actor made a stylish entrance. He also greeted his fans at the airport, waving and blowing kisses, much to their delight. ππ’π§π ππ‘ππ§ π€π π©π²πππ«, ππ§π’π π‘ππ¬ π€π π§πππ¦ π pic.twitter.com/mx2EkNHLdT — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 22, 2025 SRK’s message for KKR In a video shared by KKR's official Instagram handle, Shah Rukh Khan was seen greeting each player individually in the dressing room. He embraced them warmly and said, "God bless you. Please be healthy, be happy. And thank you, Chandu sir, for looking after them. Welcome aboard to the new members. Thank you, Ajinkya (Rahane), for joining us and being a captain. God bless you, and I hope you will find a good home here and play well with all of us. Have a good evening, a good match, and be healthy." Shah Rukh Khan's work front The superstar will reunite with Pathaan director Siddharth Anand for King. Earlier reports suggested that the film is inspired by the English-language French production, Leon: The Professional (1994). The original film revolves around a professional hitman who reluctantly takes in a twelve-year-old after her family is murdered by a corrupt official. The two form an unusual relationship, as she becomes his protégée and learns to be like him. Khan will be playing a role that was essayed by Jean Reno and his daughter Suhana Khan will be stepping into Natalie Portman’s shoes. It will feature Abhishek Bachchan as the antagonist and also have Abhay Verma of Munjya fame in a pivotal role. Shah Rukh Khan may add another name to the list of South Indian filmmakers with whom he has found favour. He is said to be in discussion with Sukumar, the man behind the successful Pushpa franchise. Rumours had previously suggested that the duo would join hands for a dark, intense, psychological thriller, but fresh buzz hints at something entirely different. “King Khan will play an anti-hero, but this will be a rural political action drama that promises to show him in a raw, rustic, and desi avatar that blends his mass appeal with his global superstar image. It will also explore social issues like caste and class oppression,” a source told Mid-day.
22 March,2025 01:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs Sikandar gears up for its mega release on the festive occasion of Eid, filmmaker AR Murugadoss gets candid on how he got Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on board for the action entertainer. As a storyteller, Murugadoss has also worked with the biggest superstars from South cinema including Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya, and Mahesh Babu. He asserts that while working with a superstar you can’t be a hundred percent true to the script. Salman Khan’s nod to Sikandar In an interview with PTI, Murugadoss shared that he met Salman Khan while shooting for Holiday at Madh Island. “I went and said hello. Then I said, 'I want to make a film with you.' He replied, 'Even I want to do a film with you'. A few years later, he called me as he wanted to do a Korean film remake, and I said, 'I don't want to do it. If I want to do a film with you, it has to be something which I want to write myself.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, producer Sajid Nadiadwala reached out to Murugadoss for a “good” script to collaborate on. Months of development followed, leading to a meeting with Salman at his Galaxy apartment in Mumbai. “Within 30 minutes of the narration, he walked away a bit, smoked, and then asked, 'Do you know how I work', I said, 'No.' He replied, 'I work from 2 pm to 2 am and are you okay with it?' I was like, 'This means he liked the script',” the director added. Murugadoss said they often had different interpretations of how a scene should unfold. “When we couldn't come to a conclusion, we would shoot both ways and then decide during the edit.” Working with superstars There is no option of making a regular film with a superstar, said Murugadoss, as one has to ensure that the movie has all the elements that would appeal to fans. "When you are working with superstars, you cannot be 100 percent true to the script. We've to compromise for the audience, for the fan base, for the opening. We cannot go with being 100 percent genuine as a director. We've to satisfy the fans and think about them. It is difficult to be in that zone,” he asserted. Sikandar is scheduled to be released in theatres on March 30.
22 March,2025 12:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent"Generous" is a word that automatically comes to Indian-American actor Poorna Jagannathan's mind when she thinks of Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor. In 2013, Poorna shared screen space with Ranbir in Ayan Mukerji's directorial 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. She essayed the role of Riana Sarai, a tour conductor who helps get Ranbir's character Bunny his dream job. Cut to 2025, Poorna still cherishes the bond that she created with Ranbir on the sets of 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. In a recent interview with ANI, she recalled how Ranbir helped her produce her play 'Nirbhaya'. "I loved working with Ayan and Ranbir. It was such a privilege. It was such a gift...Right after I did Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani, I went and produced my own play called Nirbhaya. And Ranbir was its first investor. He was the first one who gave me money to get this play kicked off. And we toured that, we ended up touring that play globally for three years," Poorna shared. " Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was an important movie for me to be part of because of my friendship with Ranbir and his generosity, my friendship with Ayaan. It had a significant impact on my life. It was an iconic movie," she added. Meanwhile, Poorna is currently being lauded for her role in the new show 'Deli Boys', a comedy about two Pakistani-American brothers (Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh) who unexpectedly inherit their father's illegal empire after his sudden death. Sharing her experience working on the series, she shared, "The script is really funny on paper, and then when you shoot it, it's even funnier. So we had a really hard time making it because you have a certain amount of shooting time in a day and we always go over because we were laughing in between takes ...it's so funny that we would all lose it between scenes." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Poorna Jagannathan (@poornagraphy) She also said that she feels proud to be part of 'Deli Boys' as it is headlined by South Asian actors. "I'm a very much committed to tell our specific stories to a universal audience. So I'm super, super proud to have been part of Delhi Boys...it is what I've always dreamed of to be an actor and to be able to show different aspects of ourselves...the elements of the immigrant experience, of loyalty, the strong South Asian bond that a family has, the way we eat, the way we speak Urdu, the way we speak Hindi, the way we toss out different stuff is just, you know, the way I feed the boys, it's all, it's all rooted in where we come from," Poorna emphasized. 'Deli Boys', which hails from Onyx Collective and is produced by 20th Television, is currently streaming on JioHotstar. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 March,2025 12:17 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIAs a judge on the second season of 'Hip Hop India', Malaika Arora recently schooled a 16-year-old contestant for making some inappropriate gestures directed towards her. As soon as the teenager finished his performance, Malaika expressed her anger and said, "Please give me your mother's phone number. You are a 16-year-old kid. While dancing, he is looking at me and winking, (blowing) flying kisses." The particular moment from the show went viral on social media, garnering netizens' attention. Many social media users also expressed disappointment over the contestant's behaviour, with many praising Malaika for pointing it out. Now, in an interview with ANI, Malaika opened up about the particular episode, revealing what actually irked her. She also appreciated the talent of the teenager. "Maybe that moment, I didn't have any intention to scold him or tell him that what you're doing is wrong. That wasn't my intention. I was just going to say that you're doing too much. Whatever you're doing, tone it down a little. There's no need to do so much. We're sitting here, we're your judges. You're 16-year-old old. We also sing. We also make fun of it. We also do a little bit of drama in the song which is all fine. We also blow kisses. We also bite our lips. It's all part and parcel of expression, which I feel is absolutely fine. Maybe at that moment, I felt it was a little too much," she shared. "He's an amazing dancer. He's a very nice kid, in fact," Malaika added. Malaika is serving the role of a judge alongside Remo D'Souza. Talking about the second season, Remo said, "There has been a lot of improvement from the first season to the second. I mean, the way it's been presented also. The way the contestants have come this time. And the way we are shooting ...all has been great so far." The second season of 'Hip Hop India' is streaming on Amazon MX Player. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 March,2025 12:11 PM IST | Mumbai | ANISooraj Barjatya, who was honoured with the Best Director award at the 70th National Film Awards for his film Uunchai starring Amitabh Bachchan as one of the leads, admitted that he took anxiety pills in the process of getting him onboard. On the latest episode of Mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist series, Sooraj recalled how he ended up doing the project during the pandemic which challenged him as a filmmaker. Sooraj Barjatya on making Uunchai The filmmaker revealed that he had the subject locked since 2016 but never dreamt of directing it. After thoughts of passing on the baton, he decided to take it up himself during the pandemic. Sooraj said, “I was sifting through subjects and when I came to Uunchai it just hit me that I should be the one doing this. Nothing was working so make what is challenging. I took it since I had nothing to lose. Upon reading it I realised it wasn’t my style but I was not letting it go. In 2-3 months we wrote it. Now my challenge was to get Amitabh Bachchan.” Sooraj on presenting Uunchai to Big B The movie maverick recalled narrating Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon which starred Abhishek Bachchan in the presence of Big B and Jaya Bachchan. “He listens with his [eyes], he doesn’t blink. And he is scary. It’s so scary. I sent the story across and he sent a message on a Zoom call. I had two anxiety medicines before opening it up,” he added. About Uunchai The film showcased Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani, Anupam Kher, and Danny Denzongpa planning and discussing the notion of summiting Mount Everest, but Danny dies of old age before they can reach a decision. The rest of his friends decide to carry on his wish and to immerse Danny's character's ashes at Mount Everest. Parineeti Chopra is seen as a trainer in the movie as she trains them for their task and eventually, they make it possible with Neena Gupta and Sarika in the company. The film marked the directorial comeback of Sooraj Barjatya after his 2015 family drama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo which starred Salman Khan, Sonam Kapoor, and Anupam Kher in the lead roles.
22 March,2025 12:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood stars Varun Dhawan and Pooja Hegde on Friday arrived in Rishikesh for the shoot of their new film. Before commencing the shoot at the sacred location, Varun and Pooja were spotted taking part in Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan Ashram. They both happily soaked up the devotional vibes. Reportedly, the film is being directed by Varun's father and ace director David Dhawan. In April last year, Trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the news on his official Instagram handle. This venture marks the fourth collaboration between Varun and David Dhawan, following the success of their previous projects like 'Main Tera Hero,' 'Judwaa 2,' and 'Coolie No 1.' In the coming months, Varun will also be seen sharing screen space with Janhvi Kapoor in 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari'. Originally slated for a release on April 18 this year, the makers have now postponed the release date due to undisclosed reasons. The film is written and directed by Sashank Khaitan. The film will hit the theatres on September 12. The film also stars Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul, and Akshay Oberoi in prominent roles. It is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 March,2025 12:03 PM IST | Rishikesh | ANIActor Viineet Kumar Siingh will be seen essaying the role of Somulu in the upcoming film ‘Jaat’. The film stars Sunny Deol in the titular role with Randeep Hooda essaying the character of Ranatunga, the formidable nemesis to Sunny’s character in the film. Viineet’s character is the brother of Randeep Hooda in the film, and is an equal threat to the titular character. Viineet’s character was revealed on Thursday following the electrifying character reveal of Randeep Hooda's Ranatunga. Viineet’s character is described as ruthless and dangerous as his brother Ranatunga. This strategic character reveal deepens the narrative's complexity, hinting at a relentless and multi-faceted challenge for Jaat. Directed by Gopichand Malineni, ‘Jaat’ also stars Saiyami Kher and Regina Cassandra. With Thaman S's pulsating soundtrack, Rishi Punjabi's striking cinematography, Navin Nooli's sharp editing, and Avinash Kolla's immersive production design, ‘Jaat’ is set to deliver a global cinematic spectacle. Produced by People Media Factory and Mythri Movie Makers, the film promises a high-octane cinematic experience, featuring breathtaking action sequences choreographed by Anl Arasu, Ram Laxman, and Venkat. ‘Jaat’ is set to debut in theatres on April 10, 2025. Meanwhile, Viineet has been getting a lot of positive response for his work in the recently released ‘Chhaava’ which stars Vicky Kaushal in the lead. The film is based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, played by Vicky Kaushal. The film is an adaptation of the eponymous Marathi novel by Shivaji Sawant, it is directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. It also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna. Viineet essays the role of Kavi Kalash in the film. The film score and soundtrack album are composed by A. R. Rahman while the lyrics are written by Irshad Kamil and Kshitij Patwardhan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 March,2025 11:58 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSDating rumors of Suhana Khan and Agastya Nanda have been doing rounds for some time now. Adding fuel to the speculations, Shah Rukh Khan's daughter was snapped at Agastya's restaurant 'Project Hum' in the Versova area of Mumbai. Suhana was seen stepping out of the restaurant wearing a black tank top, paired with matching denim. She accessorized the look with a stylish handbag, wristwatch, and open hair. Some time back, Suhana was captured enjoying a dinner date with Agastya in Mumbai. The speculated lovebirds were joined by Agastya's mom, Shweta Bachchan Nanda. Numerous videos of these three leaving the restaurant circulated on social media. The clip showed Agastya and Shweta making their way out of the restaurant and getting into their car, whereas Suhana was seen waiting for her ride. Suhana opted for a satin dress with a watercolor print. Her outfit for the evening was completed with a delicate golden bracelet and a chic beige handbag. Complementing Suhana, Agastya looked dapper in a beige jacket paired with a white T-shirt and blue denim. Meanwhile, Shweta was seen in a white double-breasted blazer, layered over a white top. For those who do not know, Suhana and Agastya made their Bollywood debut together with Zoya Akhtar's "The Archies". The project further saw Khushi Kapoor, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Dot, and Yuvraj Menda as the core cast. Released on OTT in 2023, "The Archies" is a live-action adaptation of The Archies, a fictional rock band who appeared in the 1960's animated cartoon, "The Archie Show". Up next, Suhana will be sharing the screen with her father Shah Rukh Khan for the first time in Siddarth Anand's "King". The highly-anticipated movie will also feature Abhishek Bachchan, and Abhay Verma in key roles. On the other hand, Agastya will star in Sriram Raghavan's "Ikkis". He will be seen playing the youngest recipient of Param Vir Chakra, Arun Khetarpal in his next.
22 March,2025 11:56 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
