Kangana Ranaut hits back at Maithili Thakur’s Rolls-Royce trolls: ‘Expect us to remain poor’

Highlights

• Kangana Ranaut has defended Bihar MLA and singer Maithili Thakur after she was trolled for arriving at Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
• Kangana questioned why politicians should be expected to live modestly despite having careers and sources of income outside politics.
• Maithili’s declared assets in her 2025 Bihar Assembly election affidavit have also drawn attention following the luxury car controversy.

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has come to the defense of Bihar MLA and singer Maithili Thakur after the politician faced online criticism for arriving at Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Kangana addressed the backlash on Instagram, questioning the expectation that politicians should live modestly even when they have careers, personal lives and other sources of income.

Maithili Thakur’s Rolls-Royce ride draws attention

Maithili visited Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja pandal on September 15 during Ganeshotsav. Videos from the visit showed her sitting in the back of a blue, chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Cullinan as she made her way through the crowd.

She was seen waving to people and posing for photographs before entering the pandal, where she offered prayers. The organizers later felicitated her.

The luxury SUV quickly became a talking point online, with some social media users questioning why a politician would arrive in such an expensive vehicle.

Kangana questions expectations placed on politicians

Kangana pushed back against the criticism, arguing that politicians can have successful careers and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle while also working for the public.

“Some people start to burn whenever they see politicians living a good life,” Kangana wrote on her Instagram Stories. She added that politicians may be inclined toward social service while also having “our own careers, life and popularity.”

Kangana continued, “We selflessly work for public welfare but some people get so hurt if they see us living well, why not? Why can’t we also live well?”

She also argued that expecting politicians to remain poor because they entered public life was unreasonable, writing that “to expect us to remain poor and lifeless is so irrational.”

What Maithili’s election affidavit says

The controversy also brought attention to Maithili’s financial disclosures from the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

According to her election affidavit, Maithili declared total assets worth approximately $443,000 and no liabilities. Her declared movable assets included a Honda Activa, gold jewelry, bank deposits and investments.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan seen during her Lalbaugcha Raja visit was not listed among the assets declared in the affidavit, leading to further questions online about the vehicle’s ownership.

Kangana’s comments have shifted the discussion toward a broader question about whether politicians should be expected to maintain a modest lifestyle simply because they hold public office.