Kangana takes the crown and the hamper home

From her early days in Mumbai, as a gauche outsider' to the city and Bollywood, I have been a loyal Kangana Ranaut fan. There is something about the girl. You can call her Krazy Kangs and mock her accent, but you cannot dismiss her as yet another wannabe. Because you know what, this wannabe has left all those self-styled, arrogant Bollywood royals' way behind. Those superficial, over-dressed filmi princesses must be chewing their fancy frocks in frustration when they see Kangana's spectacular rise to the top of the heap. And yes, she has done it on her own.

Last week, several incredulous jaws dropped to the floor when the spunky star took on Karan Johar on his show, and made it clear she was there to talk turkey. Karan was sporting enough to take it on the chin, indulge his gorgeous guest and carry on with the show. That is Karan, the professional. Considering Kangana had two smart co-stars as co-guests (of course, they were promoting a movie - that's what all shows are about these days), she still managed to hold her own. Even the super suave Nawab, Saif Ali Khan, looked at Kangana with what seemed like newfound respect. She floored Saif and later Shahid Kapoor with her repartee and quick wit. Given that this is an unscripted show, nobody can take the credit for Kangana's smarts.

When she turned to Karan and said pointedly, "Your idea of poverty is very different from mine", it was at once a strong comment on their respective backgrounds " Karan's a privileged SoBo existence, hers, a modest childhood in Himachal Pradesh " and a taunt. After all, people associate Karan's movies with "bubble gum, ice cream and frivolity" in his own words. The students' he has created come from his world. His extravagant early movies were OTT grandeur-meets-familymelodrama. This is the world that has always excluded aspirants like Kangana. Even today, with all her success, she doesn't quite belong there. She is not an integral part of the exclusive Bollywood club.

She called Karan snooty' and reminded him of the time he had mocked and insulted her on the very same couch. She said those jibes had made her a stronger person. How wonderful. When she went on to add (and I paraphrase): "Finding true love makes you a rich person..." I wanted to hug her. Bam! That was the knockout punch. What a line!

Kangana is not in Bollywood to win friends and influence people. She made that clear on the show. She is there to do the kind of work she believes in. If that means letting go of commercially attractive projects and alienating powerful people, so be it. She is in a position to take this position.

I recall being on a hopping flight with her a few years ago. She was a vision in baby pink, and had styled herself (I asked). I think she continues to be her own stylist even today. She'd told me she picks up clothes and accessories during her travels and considers New York the most value-formoney fashion destination. When I complimented her on the way she had put herself together, she smiled, shrugged and said, "Then why is it I don't get the top endorsement deals? None of the international brands come to me." I am sure Kangana is aware of how those deals work. It's all about hiring the sharpest agents in the business and working the system. Maybe that's not Kangana's style of doing business.

I think Bollywood is uncomfortable with women like her. But it is women like her who are the real game changers. If she refuses to play the glamorous prop in hero-dominated films, it is because she puts a high value on herself. In the bargain, she probably loses out on lakhs. But if that was her main concern, she would have made significantly different choices and been a much wealthier star.

When it comes to men, well, there are versions and there are versions. Frankly, Kangana needs a very special kind of fellow to get' her. From all accounts she can be a difficult customer - quite a handful. The other girls don't seem to like her all that much. And the men are plain terrified. Kangana, for all her complexities, is such an interesting character. If she chooses to, she can simper away like the rest. But that choice is hers and hers alone. It is said she wants full credit if her latest period film succeeds. Even if it doesn't, she'd have worked with a top class team and that's reward enough for most good actors.

Something wonderful is taking place in our movies. And the real stars are towns like Patna, Kanpur, Amritsar, and Lucknow. If these cities are stealing the show from the glam-sham of our megapolis with its gleaming, glittering skylines, I'd say actors from the same milieu will also take the pants off Bollywood brats from aamchi Mumbai.