Kangana Ranaut criticises Kunal Kamra, calls remarks '2 minutes of fame' stunt
Actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has criticised comedian Kunal Kamra, accusing him of seeking "two minutes of fame" after his parody of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde triggered political backlash, protests, and legal action.
Ranaut, a BJP MP from Mandi, questioned the credibility of individuals who, in her view, use insults for attention. "Who are these people, and what are their credentials? If they can write, they should do so in literature… Abusing people and our culture in the name of comedy is unacceptable," she said.
Her remarks come as Kamra faces an FIR over a satirical song he performed during a show. The parody, set to a tune from Dil Toh Pagal Hai, referred to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor), a reference to his split from the Shiv Sena. The comments angered Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers, who vandalised Habitat Studio in Mumbai, where Kamra performed. Police have arrested 12 people and booked 40 others over the violence.
The controversy has drawn strong reactions from political leaders. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned Kamra, calling his joke an attempt to "belittle" Shinde. "Insulting people holding constitutional posts to create disturbances will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken as per law," Fadnavis said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray defended Kamra, arguing that the comedian had merely expressed public sentiment. "He has not done anything wrong. These traitors (referring to the Shinde-led faction) conveniently ignore those who have insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Thackeray said.
Meanwhile, Habitat Studio announced a temporary closure, stating it was "shocked and worried" after being targeted over Kamra's performance. The venue distanced itself from his remarks, saying it had no involvement in the making of the video that sparked the backlash.
Despite the legal action and political storm, Kamra remains defiant. "I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Deputy CM Ajit Pawar himself has said about Eknath Shinde. I don't fear this mob, and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," he said.
The police have issued Kamra a summons, and further legal proceedings are expected. The case has reignited debates on free speech in India, with supporters arguing that political satire should not be met with crim–inal charges.
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