Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and actor-MP Kangana Ranaut were caught in a heated exchange over the recent controversy involving stand-up comic Kunal Kamra, who faced backlash for his jokes about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The dispute erupted after a studio in Mumbai was vandalized in response to Kamra’s remarks. Mehta, who has been vocal about freedom of expression, criticized the attacks on Kamra and recalled his own experiences of political intimidation in Maharashtra. However, when a social media user questioned why he had not spoken against the 2020 demolition of Kangana Ranaut’s Mumbai office, the debate escalated. Mehta defended his stance, arguing that Ranaut’s case was linked to building law violations rather than an attack on free speech. In response, Kangana detailed her ordeal, stating that her property was illegally destroyed in an act of political vengeance. She accused Mehta of hypocrisy and belittled his work, leading him to conclude the argument with a curt remark: “Get well soon.”
Hansal Mehta later shared a personal anecdote about an incident from 25 years ago when he was publicly humiliated by political loyalists for a line in his film. He recounted how his office was vandalized, he was physically assaulted, and forced to apologize publicly in front of a massive crowd. The traumatic event, he admitted, had a lasting impact on his confidence and creative expression. Mehta emphasized that while political disagreements are inevitable, resorting to violence, intimidation, and humiliation is unjustifiable. He urged for a society where dialogue and dissent are respected rather than suppressed through coercion. His remarks seemed to subtly criticize both past and present political actions that target individuals for their views.
Kangana, on the other hand, justified the current action against Kunal Kamra, arguing that while her own experience in 2020 was unlawful, the authorities’ response to Kamra’s case was legally sound. She accused Kamra of disrespecting a leader from a humble background and implied that the backlash he faced was deserved. The ongoing controversy has once again highlighted the deep political and ideological divides in India’s entertainment industry, where figures like Mehta and Ranaut continue to clash over issues of free speech, censorship, and political affiliations.
