Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is well-known for her bold and outspoken personality. Recently, she has been in the spotlight for her upcoming film Emergency, the trailer of which was released not long ago. In the midst of discussions surrounding this film, Kangana made headlines again by revealing that she has declined offers to work with some of Bollywood’s biggest stars, including the three Khans—Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, and Aamir Khan.
Why Kangana Refused to Work with the Khans
In a recent interview on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Kangana Ranaut shared her reasons for not working with the three Khans, despite their immense popularity. The Khans have a massive fan following, not just in India but globally. Many actors in the industry aspire to work with them, and some of Bollywood’s biggest actresses, including Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, have shared the screen with them. However, Kangana has chosen to chart a different path.
Kangana stated that while she holds great respect for the Khans and admires their work, she decided against working with them because she wants to break the stereotype that a female lead’s success is tied to a male superstar. She said, “I refused the Khans’ films. For me, all the Khans are good people, and they’ve never treated me poorly. Yes, there have been others in the industry who haven’t been kind, but that doesn’t include the Khans. I turned down their films because their scripts are often formulaic—actresses usually get only two scenes and a song. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to set an example of a woman who is an A-lister on her own, without having worked with the biggest stars in Bollywood.”
Empowering Women in Bollywood
Kangana further emphasized her desire to be known as an actress who reached the top without relying on the star power of male leads like Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, or Aamir Khan. “I wanted to inspire women, those who came before me and those who will come after me,” Kangana said. “No Khan or Kumar can make you successful. I even refused films offered by Ranbir Kapoor and Akshay Kumar. I didn’t want to be just another actress whose success was credited to the hero she worked with. I wanted to prove that you can be successful on your own, and that’s the example I wanted to set.”
Kangana’s Upcoming Film: Emergency
Kangana Ranaut has built a reputation for starring in strong, women-centric films. Throughout her career, she has delivered powerful performances in movies like Queen, Tanu Weds Manu, Fashion, and Thalaivi. Her next film, Emergency, is a political drama in which she portrays the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film is set to release in theaters on September 6, 2024. Alongside Kangana, the movie features a stellar cast, including Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhary, and the late Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles.
Emergency is expected to be another significant milestone in Kangana’s career, showcasing her versatility and commitment to portraying strong, influential women. In the film, she not only stars as Indira Gandhi but also takes on the role of director, further demonstrating her multi-talented capabilities in the industry.
Kangana’s decision to decline films with Bollywood’s biggest stars is a testament to her dedication to creating her own identity and success in the industry. By refusing to conform to the traditional norms of Bollywood, she continues to challenge the status quo and pave the way for more women to achieve success on their own terms.
