Kangana Ranaut is well known for speaking her mind on the issue of nepotism in Bollywood. In the aftermath of the tragic death by suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, Ranaut was one of the first to accuse the industry of causing his suicide, alleging that Rajput was anxious over his lack of big projects.
On Saturday, however, Ranaut escalated her attack, naming prominent director Mahesh Bhatt as well as actors Alia Bhatt, Taapsee Pannu and Swara Bhasker in an interview with Republic TV, where she alleged that Bollywood had a 'suicide gang' that sabotaged Rajput's career.
In the interview, Ranaut alleged that Bollywood had a culture of crushing rising actresses, accusing Javed Akhtar of threatening to push Ranaut to suicide if she did not drop her spat with Hrithik Roshan.
She spoke in detail about Mahesh Bhatt, who had helped launch Ranaut’s career as his production house funded her debut film, Gangster, accusing him of throwing a slipper at her after she turned down a role in Dhokha which she felt was glorifying the ‘heroism of a suicide bomber’. In addition, she questioned Bhatt’s relationship with Rhea Chakraborty, Rajput’s girlfriend.
“Sushant's girlfriend at the time Rhea in her statement mentioned Mahesh Bhatt. How is he related? Bhatt's first AD has written how Bhatt used to counsel him. Who was Mahesh Bhatt in Sushant's life?” Ranaut asked in the interview.
Ranaut did not stop with Bhatt; she questioned why Alia Bhatt won in the Best Actress category for her role in Gully Boy despite not having a leading role. She also called Taapsee Pannu and Swara Bhasker “B-grade actresses” and “needy outsiders”, questioning them for saying they were happy with the industry.
As of Sunday, many of those named by Ranaut have responded.
Mahesh Bhatt put up a cryptic post on Sunday. “I don’t want posterity to remember ME at all.I don’t want the world to recall me as a holy man.U do everything to be remembered .U want airports,stamps, monuments in ur name.U do everything to just continue.Permanence is just not possible.The quest for permanence is man's tragedy.”
He later retweeted a post by Dr Christian Conte saying, “Remember that you are the only one who can make your actions match your words.”
Alia, too, chose the cryptic route, sharing an Instagram story with the words, “The truth is the truth, even if no one believes it. A lie is a lie, even if everyone believes it.”
Bhasker and Pannu were more outright in their responses.
Responding to being given a ‘B’ rating by Kangana, Pannu tweeted, “Maine suna class 12th n 10th ke result ke baad humaara result bhi aa gaya hai! Humaara grade system ab official hai ? Abhi tak toh number system pe value decide hoti thi na 🤔 #MaLifeMaRulesMaShitMaPot”.
She also rebutted Kangana’s accusations in an interview with Hindustan Times, where she attacked the idea that ‘outsiders’ like her and Kangana needed to be critical of the system. "If you don’t hate someone she hates, is equivalent to 'you suck up to that person’? Is this logical?" she asked.
She also retweeted a post accusing Kangana of putting herself in the spotlight after Rajput’s death.
Kangana Ranaut is extremely brave. Not everyone can have the guts to use the tragic death of Sushant Singh Rajput and make it all about herself
— Joy (@Joydas) July 19, 2020
Swara Bhasker also retweeted Pannu’s post, and had her own points to make in a light-hearted manner.
“ -Needy outsider
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) July 19, 2020
- B grade actress
(But) - better looking & better actor than Alia Bhatt & Ananya!” 🤓🤓
Net net I think this was a compliment! 😍🙏🏽
Thanks Kangana! I think u are gorgeous, generous & a great actor ! Shine on 🌻🌻🤩🤩#KanganaSpeaksToArnab #Nepotism @KanganaTeam https://t.co/fIg4i3Lz5F
Richa Chadha also added her voice, thanking Pannu for highlighting the need for solidarity.
Thanks @taapsee for highlighting that the need of the hour is solidarity and sanity. When shoots have come to a standstill,cast/crew have no jobs, we must create a positive work culture! Let's desist from anything counter-productive that'll increase toxicity in our industry!🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/CuYAuVNT7L
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) July 19, 2020
“Thanks @taapsee for highlighting that the need of the hour is solidarity and sanity. When shoots have come to a standstill,cast/crew have no jobs, we must create a positive work culture! Let's desist from anything counter-productive that'll increase toxicity in our industry!Folded handsRed heart,” Chadha tweeted.
Not everyone took a side against Kangana. Simi Garewal tweeted saying Sushant Singh Rajput’s death could bring about a movement in Bollywood similar to how George Floyd’s death sparked massive protests against racism in the United States.
I applaud #KanganaRanaut who is braver & bolder than I am. 👏👏Only I know how a 'powerful' person has viciously tried to destroy my career. I stayed silent. Because I am not so brave... 😥@KanganaOffical
— Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) July 18, 2020
“I applaud #KanganaRanaut who is braver & bolder than I am..Only I know how a 'powerful' person has viciously tried to destroy my career. I stayed silent. Because I am not so brave...I don't know what all of you felt after watching #KanganaSpeaksToArnab ..but it has left me quite depressed.. I'm distraught at what #SushantSingRajput endured .. and also what many 'outsiders' go through in Bollywood.. it must change!” Garewal tweeted.