The rise and rise of the Queen! A quick recap of the life of the Queen of Controversy Kangana Ranaut

Mona

She was a go-getter with feet firmly on the ground. Now that she has covered the distance, and dares to speak the truth, no wonder the world, happy in the status-quo, cannot tolerate her,” opens up Shashi, who was a hostel warden at DAV School, Sector 15 in Chandigarh in early 2000s, when the controversial Queen of Bollywood Kangana Ranaut pursued her education in Chandigarh.

Either you love her or hate her, no middle ground here. An actor who blew away the audience with power-packed performances has had her share of adulation as well as criticism and controversy. Not to mince words or hold opinions back, recently this three-time National Award winner has been in the eye of the storm.

The beginning

From a small hamlet in Himachal Pradesh, Kangana headed to Chandigarh to do her schooling from DAV School. Her former hostel warden Shashi recalls her as a girl full of confidence. “She was pretty sure that she wanted to make it in the film industry. Also, she was very conscious that she couldn’t converse in English. ‘I want to learn’, she would say.” Shashi recounts asking her once why pursue medical stream if she wanted to be an actor, to which she replied, “Ma’m, what if I fail? It’s a fallback. My father wants me to be a doctor!” But no, she didn’t have to resort to her fallback option.

Her way to stardom wasn’t easy. From her own admittance, it went through physical and emotional abuse to drug use in her initial phase. But then, her debut film Gangster (2006) won her the Best Debut award both at Filmfare and Zee Cine Awards. Soon in her acting career, Fashion (2008) got her the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. On a roll, with Raaz: The Mystery Continues, Kites and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, she strode ahead. Things were to change with Tanu Weds Manu that cemented her mettle as an actress of repute. Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns fetching her the National Film Award for Best Actress (also Filmfare) two years in a row for 2014 and 2015. With Simran and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Kangana also turned writer and director inviting allegations of being arrogant and dominant.

But this firebrand Tanu was not content with honours alone, she dared to call out pay parity and also get suitably rewarded. Her upcoming film Thalaivi reportedly made her the highest paid Bollywood actress.

And, she did it on her terms. Much before the fairness of the fairness creams was questioned, she took the call to not endorse them. In 2017, Kangana said in an interview that rather than working with three Khans and get overshadowed, she would build her own brand, “Where would it take me? Can it take me a notch higher than where I already am?” Humility has never been this fiery girl’s strength. The same year she took Karan Johar head on calling him ‘flag-bearer of nepotism’ in his very own show. The issue has continued three years on with ‘Bollywood mafia gang’ another phrase to be coined and tossed around for a heated debate.

State of affairs

As interesting has been her professional life, her personal life turned heads too. The mentor-lover confusion continued between Aditya Pancholi and Kangana. The two have since warred over claims and counter claims of physical and mental abuse. Relationship with Adhyayan Suman didn’t go smooth either. The two separated allegedly on Shekhar Suman’s insistence who wanted his son to focus on career at that time. Adhyayan has since accused Kangana of being physically and verbally abusive and also doing black magic.

A rumoured affair with Ajay Devgn and after briefly dating a British doctor, it was her relationship with Hrithik Roshan, suits and counter-suits that led them filing complaints and counter complaints.

The 2020

In the ninth month of a very pregnant year, we all have made peace that 2020 is no ordinary. The year started on a good note with Kangana honoured with Padma Shri in January. Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s alleged suicide on June 14 made Kangana open all fronts against ‘Bollywood mafia’. Charges and counter-charges flowed, to the effect that the matter even reached Parliament with Jaya Bachchan indirectly taking a dig at Kangana (and others). If so far her sister Rangoli Chandel managed her social media accounts, often offending the movers and shakers of the industry, in August Kangana embraced it, hailing the power of social media.

While many have accused her of using SSR’s case to her own benefit, others have sided to support her for raising her voice against the wrongs perpetuated in the industry. The war of words wasn’t just limited to the industry, it turned political with Kangana comparing Mumbai to PoK and Sanjay Raut jumping in the fray. While her office was demolished in Mumbai, she became the first ever film star to get Y-Plus security cover. Many are linking recent development to her eyeing a political position, would she be an outcast post this fray in the industry remains to be seen.

Lately Vikram Bhatt opened up to admitting that she is a good actor but with her calling shots on the sets, he would have nothing to do but become the ‘clapper boy. It’s not like there isn’t anybody supporting her. Post her office demolition, she found support in Dia Mirza, Renuka Shahane, Sonal Chauhan and Prasson Joshi. Actor Ranvir Shorey sided with Kangana in the blame game tweeting, “The ones who come out defending the muck in #Bollywood are either the ‘gatekeepers’, or the ones sucking up to them. If you don’t like someone whistleblowing or using their freedom of expression, you’re free to use your freedom of enabling. Don’t see what the fuss is about.”

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‘We share a special bond’

“To me truthfulness is a value,” opens up Rakesh Sachdeva, former principal DAV-15. “I think Kangana has suffered a lot on account of it,” she adds. Sachdeva feels Kangana has worked very hard to reach the place she is at. “Her point is that anyone with talent should get a place in the industry, I admire that she is bold enough to speak up. She undoubtedly has got political support too.” Sachdeva recalls Kangana from her school days. “She was a very docile Himachali girl who took admission in class 11. She gradually gained confidence. She sure had passion to begin with. She wanted to see herself on big screen.” Sachdeva says at hostel Kangana would play a sharabi and exactly that was her character in Gangster. “I went and stayed with her in Mumbai when Gangster was released; she was shooting for Fashion at that time.” “Ours is a special bond. She has since come promoting her films at the school. Hum jab bhi milen khuli bahon se hi mile hain.” This Teacher’s Day, the first message she received was from Kangana. “We miss each other. I might go to Manali to see her. God bless her!”

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