When the drama is this good, you just have to press replay!

Mumbai: There was a time when Rahul Gandhi wore the awkward title of “Pappu” as a badge of honor in Indian politics. With an endearing mix of innocence and dogged determination, he embraced the moniker, even taking it with him to Parliament. But fast-forward to a recent Wednesday night, and Pappu — now leader of the opposition — was challenging Prime Minister Modi, demanding a response to Kangana Ranaut’s call to reinstate the controversial farm laws.

Yes, that Kangana — Bollywood’s queen of controversy — who is now venturing into politics with all the subtlety of a prima donna. Kangana, it seems, has an uncanny ability to transform personal opinions into national debates. After voicing her support for bringing back the farm laws that were repealed in 2021, she quickly backtracked, in classic Kangana style.

“My opinion on the farm laws is personal,” she declared, as if the collective national shrug was her cue to drop the microphone. Her political party, the BJP, was of course quick to make it clear that it had not approved of this unexpected plot twist. But if you thought this was a rare retreat for the Bollywood-turned-political maverick, you clearly don’t know Kangana.

Just a month ago, BJP president JP Nadda had gently – okay, maybe not so gently – advised her to tone down the drama while she was promoting her upcoming film Emergency. But telling Kangana to keep quiet is like asking a tornado to take a nap. We all know that’s not happening. So within weeks, she was back, demanding the return of the farm laws – the very laws that had sparked months of protests and led to an emotional national address in which the Prime Minister essentially said, “Shayad meri tapasya mein kuch kami reh gayi.” It’s as if Kangana, after her interlude of silence, found the peace a little too boring and decided to stir the pot – because let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good controversy? Is Kangana naive, or is she playing 4D chess while the rest of us are still learning checkers?

Her Bollywood antics certainly showed her penchant for causing a stir, and it seems she’s applied the same strategy to her political career. Keep talking, stay in the headlines, and never—ever—allow yourself to fade into the background. It’s a tactic that’s worked wonders on the silver screen, and it’s apparently just as effective in politics.

Let’s face it: Kangana Ranaut in politics is like casting a diva in a thriller: unpredictable, chaotic and highly entertaining. From the moment she burst onto the political scene, subtlety went out the window. Kangana doesn’t do quiet diplomacy or engage in calculated political antics. No, she dives straight in and stirs up controversy with the flair of someone who knows they’ll make a splash even if they can’t swim. Take her recent comments on the farm laws. While most politicians would be wary of such a divisive issue, Kangana charged in like a bull in a china shop, crushing any hopes of sharpness. The BJP, perhaps accustomed to her antics by now, quickly distanced itself, issuing a mild statement: “Those are her personal views.” Translated: “Here we go again.” But Kangana thrives on controversy; it’s practically her morning cardio. And when she is not creating a stir over farm laws, she is busy being Prime Minister Modi’s most vocal supporter.

Picture her with digital pom-poms made of fiery tweets, championing Modi with the enthusiasm of a die-hard fan. In her world, Modi is the superhero, and Kangana, ever the warrior queen, is always ready to strike down anyone who dares to disagree with her. And then, of course, there’s her ongoing political battle with Rahul Gandhi. Their duels feel less like debates and more like dramatic Bollywood showdowns.

In one particularly memorable exchange, Kangana tweeted that Rahul’s speeches sounded like they were written by someone who’d had one too many. Then came the pièce de résistance: her mouth-watering take on his family tree. According to Kangana, Rahul’s identity is as a khichdi, a mix of Christian, Parsi and Muslim, which makes us all wonder how pasta ended up in a pot. But Kangana’s reach extends beyond politics. She’s still taking potshots at her Bollywood colleagues while donning her MP hat.

Remember her “nepotism is great” remark? Karan Johar certainly does. Or the time she called Urmila Matondkar a “soft porn star”? Kangana has never been one for understatement, but she is undeniably effective, with every comment landing like a grenade at the heart of the debate. And if you thought she would limit herself to the domestic arena, think again. When Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India, Kangana, never missing a beat, declared Bharat the “original motherland of all the Islamic republics.” Someone just said: Historical accuracy? Who needs it when you have such theatrics? Kangana has nailed the political game, but the rule of thumb is that there is no rule of thumb. Diplomacy? Forget it. Fact-checking? Not her thing. Kangana is all about maximalism: stoking every fire, stirring every pot and making sure the spotlight remains firmly on her.

Whether she’s demanding the return of farm laws, accusing the Bollywood elite of being a mafia or rebranding herself as the BJP’s Joan of Arc, she knows how to keep the cameras rolling. Like her or not, one thing’s for sure: Kangana Ranaut is writing her own script in Indian politics and we’re all running with it. What’s next? With Kangana, your guess is as good as mine, but rest assured it’ll be entertaining.