GIRL POWER! KANGANA AND ASHWINY
“People think I just say or do things without any thought. But that’s not true. My actions are planned… it’s organised chaos.”
“I see myself as someone who is plain-spoken. I am what I am, and what you see is what you get. This is something I live by.”
The Last time I Met Kangana Ranaut, it was on the French Riviera, where she had just finished walking the 71st Cannes Film Festival red carpet. It was her debut appearance, the stakes were high, and Kangana was committed to the sartorial cause—strolling out of the opulent Hotel Martinez at lunchtime in a black Sabyasachi sari and retro bouffant, then a heavily embellished Nedret Taciroglu jumpsuit on the red carpet, which made an easy impact amongst the vast sea of flossy gowns.
The Cosmo India team and I were there to photograph Kangana for our cover.
And, truth be told, we were not entirely sure what to expect.
The months before had seen the National Film Award winner in the centre of many a storm. There was the very bitter, very public feud with actor Hrithik Roshan. Then news channels began flashing bizarre accusations of Kangana practicing witchcraft on ex-boyfriend Adhyayan Suman. Followed by an ugly blame-game that broke out between Kangana and director Karan Johar when she accused him of being “the flag-bearer of nepotism”.
Kangana had acquired herself a reputation for being ‘fierce’, ‘feminist’, and ‘outspoken’. But also ‘difficult’ and ‘combative’.
What we weren’t expecting was the warmth that Kangana brings with her. And a certain childlike innocence that makes you want to hug her. She rummaged through the outfit line-up and shook her curly head in delight at the rack of clothes waiting for her. The photoshoot itself was one of our most effortless yet—Kangana was friendly, pleasant, and
