Kangana Ranaut bats for representation of 'mountain women' in Indian cinema and TV

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut recently took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message about the representation of mountain women in Indian entertainment. In her Instagram Story, Kangana highlighted how Indian women are among the most beautiful in the world but pointed out the lack of visibility and opportunities for women from mountain regions.

The Emergency actress stated, “Indian women are most gorgeous, mountain women need more acceptance in mainstream India narrative.” Kangana called for more inclusive casting and storytelling in films that portray the culture and backdrop of India’s mountainous areas. She cited examples like Mary Kom, Taal, and Barfi, not for their exact stories, but for their scenic mountain settings. According to her, stories with such settings should also feature actors and characters from those regions, offering a more authentic portrayal.

Kangana, who hails from Himachal Pradesh herself, has often spoken about her roots and challenges in the industry. In this message, she extended her appeal beyond films, suggesting that mountain women should also be given more space as influencers and lead faces in the television industry.

She wrote, “They need to be included more as influencers and leading faces in the television industry also. Please let’s do that.”

Her statement emphasizes the need for mainstream Indian cinema and TV to broaden their representation to include more diverse regional faces. In a time when inclusivity is a global movement, Kangana's message adds an important voice from within the industry.

With her powerful platform and bold voice, Kangana once again uses social media to raise a meaningful point about cultural diversity and equal opportunity in Indian media.

Kangana Ranaut started her career with modelling at sixteen before training under theatre director Arvind Gaur. She made her film debut with Gangster (2006), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Known for portraying strong characters, she earned her fourth National Film Award for Manikarnika (2019) and Panga (2020). Her latest directorial, Emergency (2025), where she played Indira Gandhi, received mixed to negative reviews.