We met Kangana Ranaut over the weekend as she was getting ready to walk as the showstopper on the 2016 Blenders Pride Fashion Week ramp for ace designer, Manish Arora, in Mumbai. One of the first things that stood out during the interview was the complete professional aura around Kangana. Right from the people around her who worked in complete sync without any fuss, to the diva herself, who was juggling media interviews and getting ready at the same time! Perhaps it is this very dedication and focus towards her work that makes Kangana such a valued A-lister.
"This year has given me two of my most incredible characters of my career - Julia (in Rangoon, releasing in February, next year) and Praful Patel (in Simran, releasing in September, 2017). I've had quite a busy year in terms of work and these are the two roles that jump to my mind. Apart from that I've recently acquired some land in Manali and I am setting up a farm which I am very excited about," she said as we started discussing how work was panning out for her.
Kangana has well managed to make the old Bollywood formula of hero-heroine-and-romance redundant with her amazing performances in movies like Queen and Revolver Rani. She manages to carry entire movies on her very slender shoulders, without a hero. But, for someone who has managed to re-align these archaic power balances, she still hasn't been able to shake off that other element this industry thrives on: controversy and gossip. Controversy seems to trail her, and we asked the actress how she manages to put it the nastiness behind her and move on?
"I think I understand myself really well and that is what helps me the most. The worst kind of people to deal with are the ones who themselves don't know what they want. I feel that because I know exactly who I am as a person and I take total responsibility for my actions, I can really manage dealing with all this. My strong point lies in the fact that I understand both my strength and my weaknesses and no matter what I do - be it a project, getting in a relationship or even getting in a fight - I give it a lot of thought and my hundred percent."
Does the fact that the fiery actress also has zero tolerance for bullshit help?
"No, I disagree with that. It's not like I have zero tolerance for bullshit. When you are a working girl you have to put up with a lot of bullshit but you also need to call it out sometimes. If you ignore it or them for too long, they take your laidback attitude for weakness. At times you just need to hit back," she responds, adding, with a smile, "Of course I pick the people I want to give back to, I cannot be fixing everyone."
We end the interview with a favourite; what's your go-to Bollywood movie?
Surprising, the actress doesn't watch B-town flicks, choosing to immerse herself in another medium. "I read more than I watch movies. Also this year I have been so consumed with everything that has been happening - especially with the work on my farm that I don't really have the time. However I always believe in doing something constructive and keeping my mind busy rather than keeping it entertained with movies, or anything for that matter," she signs off with that signature Kangana laugh.
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