Kangana Ranaut and Karan Johar are two people who have a past that is ugly and quite public. They have lashed out at each other during public platforms, gave each other terms and there were a lot of heated exchange of words. However it now appears that KJo is trying to warm up to the actress.
Kangana Ranaut and Karan Johar are two people who have a past that is ugly and quite public. They have lashed out at each other during public platforms, gave each other terms and there were a lot of heated exchange of words. However it now appears that KJo is trying to warm up to the actress.
Recently, in an interview, Karan Johar reportedly (also shockingly) lauded Kangana Ranaut. The filmmaker called her 'one of the best actresses in the film industry' and even said that he was willing to direct her in a film. As per reports, Karan Johar was asked by the CEO of Dharma Productions and very close friend Apoorva Mehta whether he would be comfortable directing Kangana anytime soon on a recently held chat show. KJo, much to everyone's surprise, promptly replied, “Yes, for sure. Kangana is one of the best actresses we have.”
However, Kangana Ranaut had gone on record to say that Karan has tried to warm up to her after a lot of debate. In fact calling Kangana 'best actress' might also be part of warming up to her. In the past, Karan never has called Kangana a good actress or mentioned that he would love to direct her. So what changed?
See for yourself:
1. 'No director or lead actor has asked for her'
)
Karan Johar, in a previous interview held this year, told a portal why he never casted Kangana Ranaut in a movie. "I have no problem with her. Tomorrow, if I feel like she is really required for a film, I will work with her. The film I was directing didn’t have any scope for her, in my opinion, and no director has come to me with the desire to cast her. I, therefore, have not cast her. No lead actor has asked for her. Just because we had personal differences doesn’t mean we are not going to work together," said the filmmaker.
He however also added, "Anurag Kashyap and I had a huge problem but he still wrote dialogues for 'Kurbaan'. I am a working filmmaker. I don’t have problems or issues with anybody and I certainly don’t take them to my workplace. If the film demands a Kangana, if a filmmaker wants her then why not? It's a commercial deal and there are no emotions involved in commerce."
2. When Kangana Ranaut's sister Rangoli had attacked Karan Johar for not calling her 'best actress'
)
Karan Johar was asked to name best actresses. He named Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Anushka Sharma. A troll then went on to tweet to him, "Karan mentioned Dipika Alia Anushka but he didn't mentioned #KanganaRanaut name in best acting line up Isse hi to darr kahte hai.. Bcoz he already knews Kangana is best of all Am I Right @karanjohar ???Kitna darte Ho yaar [sic]." Retweeting the post, Kangana Ranaut's sister added, "This is movie mafia, he #KaranJohar talks about acting without mentioning multiple national award winner only to create perception about his own preffered Nepo kids... [sic]"
3. When Kangana Ranaut felt Karan Johar is warming up to her
)
Despite Karan Johar and Kangana Ranaut's ongoign tiff, the actress felt that the filmmaker is warming up to her as he agreed to be part of a TV show which also featured her. She told Mumbai Mirror in January 2018, "I am looking forward to being on the show. It is a professional commitment for which I'm being paid. What is delightful is that Karan is okay with doing the show with me and seems to be slowly warming up to me."
She however also added, "I'm happy that Karan is making me feel so welcome, but I think I have been worthy of every platform I've been on. I've earned my place and deserve to be on it. Nobody has to open any doors for me I am capable of opening all the doors myself."
4. What Kangana Ranaut once said she likes about Karan Johar
)
Kangana Ranaut once went on to say, "I really like Karan Johar because he has no mask on his face. Whatever he is, he's on one's face."
5. When fans thought Varun Dhawan praised 'Manikarnika' trailer on Karan Johar's word
)
The fans understood that Karan Johar had been trying to warm up to Kangana Ranaut. They in fact thought Varun Dhawan, who got his launch with Karan Johar's film 'Student Of The Year' and is a Dharma favoruite, praised the trailer because KJo asked him to.
Varun however clarified the same on #varunsays by tweeting, "No he’s not yaa I really loved it #varunsays"
No he’s not yaa I really loved it #varunsays https://t.co/MK2WqZSgcS
— Varun ZAFAR Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) December 19, 2018
For the uninitiated, Kangana had pointed out how Bollywood did not come out in support of her debut directorial film 'Manikarnika'.
6. Shatrughan Sinha also warmed up to Kangana Ranaut after the fight over 'I Love You Boss', via 'Manikarnika'
)
Kangana Ranaut was at loggerheads even with Shatrughan Sinha. The actress walked out of the movie 'I Love You Boss' since she felt uncomfortable on the sets. However despite everything, Sinha praised Ranaut for 'Manikarnika'.
"A strong woman doesn’t need to be labelled as a man to celebrate her strength. The Rani of Jhansi was not only a model human, but a role model for freedom fighters as well. She was a fierce fighter, who lived and died for the country,” he said in a media interaction which was held in April.
He added, “As far as Kangana Ranaut is concerned, she again is a remarkable self-made lady. She made it on her own terms, against all odds, in a male dominated industry. She gives any actor – male or female – tough competition. She commands respect and even remuneration that she’s worthy of. God bless, long live Kangana! She’s a role model of woman empowerment.”
7. When Karan Johar said he would 'lovingly and respectfully welcome' Kangana Ranaut on his show
)
Talking about inviting Kangana Ranaut on the TV show which he judged, 'India's Next Superstar', Karan Johar had told PTI, "I am sure when Star Plus (the channel which will air the show) invites her we will be happy to have her. Our heart is big, our house is open to all. We will happily, lovingly and respectfully welcome her on the show." This incident took place in 2018.
8. Karan Johar and Kangana Ranaut shared a hug
)
Kanagana Ranaut was seen warming up to Karan Johar and he too was all laughs around her. This happened on the TV show in 2018.
9. Kangana Ranaut however pointed fingers at Karan Johar's favourites Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt
)
In March this year, Kangana Ranaut took a jibe at both Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. They are not only Karan Johar's favourites but will also appear in a trilogy 'Brahmastra', which is going to be produced by him.
During an interaction at the success party of 'Manikarnika', Kangana went on to put Ranbir in his place by saying, “If we are asking about your sex life, that you are okay to discuss, put the pictures on Instagram, who I am f***ing, who I am not f***ing, that is fine but about the country, it’s my personal choice.”
“These are people who feel absolutely exclusive, saying one has nothing to do with the rest of India. This is the kind of attitude that Karan Johar and gang thrive on. And a lot of negative PR about me has been happening from these people. Maybe you don’t know, but I know who gives out news [about me]. That’s why whenever I do something; it is to put them in their place,” she added.
In fact Kangana even went on to call Alia Bhatt 'Karan Johar's puppet' and asked her 'to grow a spine'. "I asked her if I can be courteous and gracious to acknowledge her requests for encouraging relevant work that she does, why is she so scared to see my film. I suggested that she grows some spine and supports an important film about woman empowerment and nationalism...if she doesn't have a voice of her own and her existence is all about being KJo's (Karan Johar) puppet then I don't consider her successful," Kangana had said.
10. In October 2018, Kangana Ranaut questioned Karan Johar's silence over #MeTooIndia
)
Kangana Ranaut, known to speak her mind, questioned Karan Johar over his silence on #MeTooIndia. “Karan Johar has views about gym looks and airport looks. He tweets ten times about it. What about this? This is their identity. This is their bread and butter. When the film industry is going through such an important shift, where are they?,” she questioned on India Today.
11. The ongoing nepotism debate
)
Just a few days back (on April 3), Karan Johar made a statement. When asked why he loves talking about nepotism so much, he said, "No, I don't love this subject... Someone else loves the topic. Main bolunga toh log bolte hain ki main bolta hun (If I say something, people say that I talk a lot). So I will continue doing my work and let the other person do the talking about it."
Around March 29 this year, Kangana Ranaut also spoke about nepotism. When questioned if she would support her child to take up acting and add on to nepotism, the actress told a daily, ''If I do that, the possibility of him being a good director will be 50 per cent. If I really care for him as a mother, I will let him find his own way, because he can make a good living out of anything, anywhere." ''But if I want him to be an extraordinary person, I must throw him into the sea. He will either drown or make it,'' she added.
The whole nepotism fiasco began when Karan Johar invited Kangana Ranaut on his show 'Koffee With Karan' in 2017. She arrived with Shahid Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan to promote their film 'Rangoon'. There, Kangana called him 'flagbearer of nepotism' and 'movie mafia'. Post that, Karan thought she was playing the 'woman card' and 'victim card'. Kangana instead said she was playing the 'badass card'. When KJo even asked her to quit movies, she mentioned, “The Indian film industry is not a small studio given to Karan by his father when he was in his early 20s. I learnt on the job and got paid for it, using the money to educate myself in New York. He is nobody to tell me to leave it. I’m definitely not going anywhere, Mr. Johar.”
After the debate went on for a long time, KJo even poked fun at Kangana in IIFA along with Varun Dhawan and Saif Ali Khan. They sang 'Bole Chudiyan, Bole Kangana', on which KJo commented, 'Woh kuch na bole toh hi accha hai' and even called her jobless. Kangana retaliated by saying, "Look at how Karan Johar mocked me on IIFA and calling me jobless. Look at my talent and look at your movies. He needs a dose of chawanprash."
12. Predictions that Karan Johar would feature in Kangana Ranaut's biopic
)
A report in Mumbai Mirror, which was published on Valentine's Day this year, stated that Kangana Ranaut is set to direct her own biopic. Some people suggested that Karan Johar will also be part of the biopic.
Meanwhile Kangana Ranaut, last seen in 'Manikarnika', is awaiting the release of 'Mental Hai Kya', and has begun shooting for Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's 'Panga'.
(All photos via File Photo)
