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Kangana invokes Shabana Azmi in protest spat
14 Aug
Summary
- Kangana Ranaut defended her protest remark by referencing Shabana Azmi.
- Shabana Azmi previously condemned an attack on Ranaut despite differences.
- The actors have a history of public disagreements and a legal dispute.
A public exchange between Kangana Ranaut and Shabana Azmi has taken an interesting turn, recalling a past instance where Azmi defended Ranaut. In August 2026, Ranaut, while defending her "Generation Gutter" comment about protesters at Jantar Mantar, stated that more than half the attendees were "Shabana Azmi-type people." This remark contrasts sharply with an event in June 2024.
At Chandigarh Airport in June 2024, a CISF constable assaulted Ranaut. Despite a long-standing public and legal feud, which included a defamation case involving Azmi's husband Javed Akhtar, Azmi publicly condemned the attack. She emphasized that personal disagreements should not lead to celebrating violence and highlighted the danger of security personnel taking the law into their hands.
The legal dispute between Akhtar and Ranaut was settled via mediation in February 2025. However, their public disagreements persist. Azmi's principled stance in 2024, where she drew a line at violence despite her differences with Ranaut, now casts a different light on Ranaut's recent invocation of her name.
