Kangana Ranaut responds to sexual misconduct in Malayalam film industry: ‘It’s a hopeless place’

Kangana Ranaut has never been one to speak her mind, and she certainly didn’t hold back in a recent interview with India Today. Reacting to reports by the Hema Committee on the widespread discrimination and sexual exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema, Kangana expressed a deep sense of frustration – not just with the film industry, but also with her fellow women who, she believes, have failed to rise to the occasion.

When asked about the “rape culture” in the Kerala film industry and whether it extends to cinema at large, Kangana was adamant in her response: “I have nothing to say about the industry, it’s a hopeless place,” she said bluntly. “I have risked everything, from my career to my choices. I have two things against me. I started the MeToo movement, which by the way has gone nowhere.”

She pointed out that she has long been an outspoken critic of the industry’s entrenched sexism, fighting for everything from pay equality to the elimination of rape culture in Bollywood films. “I started doing parallel feminist cinema, but these women attacked me! These women who are now allowed to make these films because I actively fought for pay equality,” she said, lamenting that her efforts often go unnoticed or are actively thwarted. Kangana also noted that she refused to appear in blockbusters starring the Khans, Kapoors and Kumars, a decision she said came at considerable personal cost.

“Where are we going now?” Kangana asked rhetorically. “The same kind of sexist cinema, which promotes violence against women, is doing better than ever!” She stressed that she has been speaking out on these issues for long, but her pleas have fallen on deaf ears. “I have been talking about it for so long. Where has it gone? It has gone nowhere. It is a hopeless place.”

Kangana was particularly critical of the way women in the industry perpetuate harmful tropes, including participating in item numbers and not taking responsibility for the sexualisation of women on screen. “I’m very disappointed in girls who are promoting and doing these item numbers, who are not taking responsibility for the sexualisation of young women,” she said. “I’m very disappointed in women who are not promoting the work of other women.”

She added that her fight has come at a high personal cost. “I’ve made everyone my enemy,” she admitted. “I’ve only lost opportunities, money, brands, everything!”

Kangana will next be seen in Emergency, where she plays the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Apart from her role in the film, she also wrote and directed the film. Emergency, which also stars Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair and the late Satish Kaushik, is set to hit theatres on September 6.