Kangana Ranaut and Hansal Mehta Clash Online Over Kunal Kamra Controversy

A debate over free speech, political satire, and selective outrage reignites past tensions as Kangana Ranaut and Hansal Mehta engage in a public war of words amid the crackdown on comedian Kunal Kamra.

March 25, 2025: The ongoing row surrounding stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s parody of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took a sharp turn as it reignited a public spat between filmmaker Hansal Mehta and actor-politician Kangana Ranaut. The two, who had previously collaborated on the 2017 film Simran, exchanged sharp remarks online over the state’s response to Kamra’s satire and the parallels being drawn with the 2020 demolition of Ranaut’s Mumbai office.

Also Read: Kangana Ranaut on Kunal Kamra Row: “Action Against Me Was Illegal, This Is Legal”

Hansal Mehta, known for his acclaimed works like Shahid and Scam 1992, shared his personal experience of political censorship in the past and condemned the recent vandalism at a Mumbai studio in protest against Kamra’s content. In his post, Mehta emphasized that “violence, intimidation, and humiliation can never be justified,” recounting an incident from 25 years ago when political loyalists vandalized his office and publicly humiliated him over a line in his film.

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When a user questioned why Mehta hadn’t spoken up during the demolition of Ranaut’s office, he responded by asking if goons had entered her premises or if her freedom of expression was similarly challenged.

Kangana Ranaut quickly responded, detailing how her property was bulldozed “before courts could open,” labeling it a deliberate act of humiliation under the Uddhav Thackeray-led BMC in 2020. She described Mehta’s remarks as uninformed and personally attacked his creative work, calling his films “third-class.”

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The filmmaker replied tersely: “Get well soon.”

Earlier, Ranaut defended the current civic action against Kamra’s studio as “legal” and said disrespecting someone for their humble beginnings, referring to Mr. Shinde’s past as an autorickshaw driver, was unacceptable.

This renewed clash has once again brought into focus the fine line between artistic expression, satire, political dissent, and the increasing polarization of public opinion. While both sides recount their experiences with censorship, their opposing views on what qualifies as justified state action underscore the complex and often contradictory nature of free speech debates in India today.

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