Renowned Bollywood actress and filmmaker, Kangana Ranaut, known for her outspoken support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has officially entered the political arena. The 37-year-old star has been nominated as the Lok Sabha candidate for her native Himachal Pradesh constituency by the BJP, as reported by India Today.
Having gained fame for portraying strong female characters in unconventional films, Ranaut has been dropping hints about her political aspirations for some time, according to various reports in Indian media. Following her nomination, Ranaut expressed her gratitude and unwavering support to the BJP leadership on social media, stating she feels “honored and elated” to join the party officially.
Pledging her “unconditional support,” the actor-turned-politician took to Instagram saying, “Today, the national leadership of BJP has announced me as their Lok Sabha candidate from my birthplace Himachal Pradesh, Mandi (constituency). I abide by the high command’s decision on contesting the Lok Sabha polls. I feel honored and elated to officially join the party. I look forward to being a worthy karyakarta and a reliable public servant. Thanks.”
Ranaut has been vocal about her staunch backing of Prime Minister Modi in the past, stating, “As a young woman, I do believe that we need to have the right role models…I feel he is the right role model.”
Having debuted in the film industry in 2006 with the thriller Gangster, Ranaut earned accolades for her performances, including a Best Female Debut award. She established herself by taking on unconventional and emotionally challenging roles, such as portraying a mutant superhero in Krrish 3 (2013) and an abandoned bride in the comedy-drama Queen (2014), which earned her the Best Actress award.
However, following a series of commercial failures after 2015, Ranaut ventured into producing her own films in 2020. She became known for her controversial right-wing views, which have now culminated in her formal entry into Indian politics.
