Renowned as much for her acting achievements as for her unfiltered statements, Kangana Ranaut frequently finds herself at the center of news headlines. While her past high-profile conflict with actor Hrithik Roshan has recently re-emerged in public discussions, he is far from the only industry figure she has publicly clashed with. Over the past decade, the actress has launched direct critiques against filmmakers, lyricists, and fellow actors. At least 10 major figures in the Hindi film industry have been drawn into public disputes with her over various issues.
The Nepotism Debate Involving Karan Johar and Alia Bhatt
One of the most widely covered feuds in Indian cinema began in 2017 during Kangana's appearance on Karan Johar's talk show Koffee With Karan. On the show, she famously labeled Johar as the flagbearer of nepotism. That singular remark triggered an industry-wide debate regarding nepotism and favoritism in film casting, leading to prolonged back-and-forth statements across media interviews and social media platforms for years.
Actor Alia Bhatt also repeatedly faced criticism from Kangana. The actress accused Bhatt of directly benefiting from nepotism, maintaining silence on critical national issues, and maintaining close ties with Johar. Kangana occasionally mocked Bhatt's interviews and her film choices. Throughout these recurring comments, Bhatt largely refrained from offering direct public reactions.
Legal Battles and Direct Accusations: Javed Akhtar and Mahesh Bhatt
Kangana's confrontation with veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar escalated into a formal court case. Tied to the backdrop of her feud with Hrithik Roshan, Kangana claimed that Akhtar invited her to his residence and exerted pressure on her to issue an apology to Roshan. Akhtar rejected these allegations entirely and subsequently initiated a defamation lawsuit against her, resulting in a prolonged legal proceeding between the two parties.
Her allegations against veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt were similarly intense. Kangana characterized Bhatt as part of a movie mafia and alleged that early in her career, after she declined a film project, he threw a slipper at her. Bhatt firmly denied all claims made regarding that incident.
Public Friction with Deepika Padukone, Swara Bhaskar, and Ranbir Kapoor
Kangana has also taken aims at her contemporaries. Regarding Deepika Padukone, Kangana voiced criticism over award show dynamics, Padukone's mental health awareness initiatives concerning depression, airport fashion trends, and movie choices. Their differences expanded further following Padukone's visit to JNU in 2020.
With actor Swara Bhaskar, Kangana engaged in several intense social media exchanges centered around political and social viewpoints. Meanwhile, Kangana targeted actor Ranbir Kapoor for refraining from expressing opinions on political and social matters. She publicly criticized his film Animal and later made indirect remarks concerning the casting and creative choices for the film project Ramayana.
Outspoken Remarks: Vikrant Massey and Past Claims by Adhyayan Suman
A notable feud emerged with actor Vikrant Massey after he described Kangana as a right-wing icon in an interview. Responding on her Instagram Story, Kangana publicly referred to Massey as a cockroach.
Additionally, following their breakup in 2016, actor Adhyayan Suman made severe personal accusations against Kangana. He alleged that he had experienced mental harassment and claimed she practiced black magic during their relationship. Kangana rejected all of Suman's assertions, calling them baseless.
