Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut recently found herself at the center of a controversy after being slapped by a CISF constable at Chandigarh airport. The incident occurred as Kangana was traveling to Delhi following her victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Despite her history of public feuds with several Bollywood celebrities, including Hrithik Roshan and Alia Bhatt, both actors have shown their support for her in the wake of this incident.
On Sunday, journalist Faye D’Souza took to Instagram to condemn the slap incident. She emphasized that violence is never the solution, especially in a country that prides itself on Gandhi’s principles of non-violence. The post received likes from several celebrities, including Alia Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan, Soni Razdan, Zoya Akhtar, Sonakshi Sinha, and Arjun Kapoor. This show of solidarity is particularly notable given the tumultuous history between Kangana and these stars.
Kangana has often been vocal about her disdain for Alia Bhatt, criticizing her performance in “Gully Boy” and calling it “mediocre.” Despite this, Alia chose to support Kangana by liking the post condemning the slap. Similarly, Hrithik Roshan, who has had a long-standing and very public feud with Kangana, also showed his support by liking the post. Their actions suggest that, despite personal differences, they do not condone violence.
Following the incident, Kangana took to social media to share her side of the story. She revealed that the constable, identified as Kulwinder Kaur, justified her actions by citing her support for the farmers’ protests. Kangana expressed her concern about the rise of extremism in Punjab, stating, “I am safe and perfectly fine. However, my concern is how we will handle the rise of extremism in Punjab.”
In response to the incident, CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur has been suspended, and an FIR has been filed against her. Kaur’s relative defended her actions, claiming the argument began over Kangana’s refusal to place her purse and phone on the conveyor belt for scanning. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the conduct of security personnel and the appropriate ways to handle disagreements.
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi also weighed in on the incident, stating, “I have no love lost for Kangana, but celebrating the slap is wrong. If security personnel start taking law into their hands, none of us can be safe.” Actor Anupam Kher echoed similar sentiments, calling for legal action against the constable.
Kangana’s reaction to the incident was swift and pointed. She criticized Bollywood for not publicly condemning the slap, stating that those who are okay with breaking into someone’s intimate zone would also be okay with grave crimes like rapes and murders. In a now-deleted post, she wrote, “Every rapist, murderer or thief always have a strong emotional, physical, psychological or financial reason to commit a crime, no crime ever happens without a reason, yet they are convicted and sentenced to jail.”
The incident has also led to a broader discussion about the role of security personnel and the limits of their authority. Journalist Faye D’Souza’s post highlighted the dangers of security personnel reacting violently while in uniform, stating, “Imagine, over the last ten years, if those of us who questioned power were assaulted at airports by constables who were in agreement with that power.”
Despite the controversy, Kangana remains focused on her political career. She recently won the Lok Sabha elections from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi seat on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, receiving 537,022 votes against Congress party’s candidate Vikramaditya Singh, who got 462,267 votes.
The incident has also brought to light the complex relationships and dynamics within Bollywood. While Kangana has often been at odds with many in the industry, the support she has received from celebrities like Hrithik Roshan and Alia Bhatt suggests that there are moments when personal differences can be set aside for a greater cause.
As the story continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact Kangana’s career and her relationships within the industry. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that such incidents do not recur and that security personnel are held accountable for their actions.
