Highlights:
- Kangana Ranaut commented on the Ranveer Singh controversy.
- FWICE had issued a non-cooperation directive against him.
- Kangana linked the issue to the success of Dhurandhar.
- The directive was later withdrawn.
- Kangana's latest film is Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.
Last month, Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh made headlines after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees issued a non-cooperation directive against him following reports that he had exited Don 3.
At the time, actress Kangana Ranaut publicly supported Ranveer. She has now spoken about why she believes the actor may have been "targeted."
In an interview with News18, Kangana was asked why she thought Ranveer had been singled out. She initially said that only Ranveer could answer that question. However, when the interviewer mentioned that she had also faced similar situations in the industry, Kangana shared her own perspective.
She said, "Me yehi kehna chahti hu…ke, ek toh industry joh hai…you know a bit of…inme hai thoda Pakistan prem hai. Adhiktar filmein toh hume Pakistan prem hi sikhate hain na… Abhi tak sikhati aayi hain (What I want to say is that the industry has, you know, a bit of... There is some love for Pakistan among many people here. Most films have, in a way, taught us to sympathise with or admire Pakistan. That's what they have been doing for years)."
The interviewer then noted that the controversy came after the success of Dhurandhar. Kangana responded by connecting the issue to the film's subject matter.
She said, "Haan, wohi toh…jab ek aisi film aati hai, jo hume Pakistan ka asli chehra dikhati hai… toh inko fir dard hota hai ki humne jo aajtak kiya uska kya value (Yes, exactly. That's the point. When a film comes along that shows Pakistan's real face, then some people feel uncomfortable. They start wondering what value remains in everything they have been doing and promoting all these years)."
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar featured Ranveer Singh as an Indian spy who infiltrates Pakistan's underworld and rises through its political structure in an effort to dismantle a terror network targeting India.
The two-part franchise earned more than $350 million worldwide at the box office.
The controversy began when FWICE issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer after reports claimed he had left Don 3 only weeks before production was scheduled to start.
According to reports, filmmaker Farhan Akhtar filed a complaint with the organization. It was alleged that Excel Entertainment suffered losses of around $5.2 million because of Ranveer's departure from the project following the success of Dhurandhar.
However, the directive was withdrawn last week after the intervention of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association and the Cine & TV Artistes' Association.
Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut is receiving praise for her performance in Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.
Directed by Manoj Tapadia, the film stars Kangana alongside Girija Oak, Smita Tambe, and Amrutha Namdev.
The movie focuses on the bravery of hospital staff during a terror attack in Mumbai and highlights the lives saved inside Cama Hospital. It was released in theaters on June 12.
