Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi came from a privileged background and was a 'product of nepotism'. Ranaut is busy promoting her much-awaited film Emergency, in which she plays the role of Indira Gandhi.
“It is clear that Indira Gandhi was a product of nepotism. But what happens is that when I meet certain people, like in our film industry, who I don't like or don't want to be, I will still play a character with the utmost sensitivity, because being an artist means not having a colored perception . ,” Ranaut said during an interaction with news agency IANS.
BJP MP from Mandi
Ranaut is a Bharatiya Janata Party (MP) from Mandi. She won her first election on the BJP ticket from the Mandi seat in her home state, Himachal Pradesh, in the 2024 general elections.
“I may come from a party that belongs to the people, as the name suggests, but I can still deal very sensitively with someone who comes from a privileged background. Indira Gandhi came from one. She was a three-time Prime Minister and daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. She became secretary and got the best ministries. What more privilege could you ask for? Yes, she is privileged, but that doesn't mean I can't get a sensible view of her.” Ranaut said about her upcoming film.
Indira Gandhi and Emergency
The emergency is based on the 21-month period from 1975 to 1977, when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency for the entire country. It details the final years of her term, including Operation Bluestar. Ranaut has also directed the film which will hit the screens on January 17 after a long delay.
The BJP, Ranaut's party, has used Emergency as a political tool to attack the Congress party, once led by Indira Gandhi. The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally declared June 25 as 'Constitution Day' to commemorate the tumultuous events of the 1975 Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi.
It is clear that Indira Gandhi was a product of nepotism.
However, Ranaut said her film Emergency is not a political film. “It's a story. It has nothing to do with politics. You may find it very bizarre now. Ultimately, it's not about any party. You come out with the feeling that, you've just seen the film, you it won't come out anymore.” sense who you are going to vote for,” she said in the IANS report.