Actor and Member of Parliament, Kangana Ranaut, has recently reiterated her strong stance against veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, particularly in defense of her previous controversial remark referring to him as a “lomdi” (fox). This recent exchange is a continuation of a contentious public dialogue that began after Shah’s critical “dog” comment directed at certain Bollywood personalities who did not vocalize their support for the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) protests.
Ranaut’s initial reaction to Shah’s critique was shared on her Instagram stories, where she expressed a fierce loyalty to her nation. She stated, “The truth is, everyone is someone’s dog, but I am proud that I guard and fight for the home (country) whose bread I eat. Nasir Saab eats the bread of this country, but fights for the neighbouring country.” This direct accusation of disloyalty has since been amplified by Ranaut.
In a recent interview, Ranaut elaborated on her reasons for calling Shah a “lomdi,” drawing parallels between different societal reactions to political events. She recounted a period of intense unrest at Jantar Mantar, where she claimed fellow parliamentarians’ vehicles were targeted and approximately 2,500 individuals gathered outside her residence, necessitating a heavy police presence and causing her family sleepless nights. Ranaut sharply contrasted the film fraternity’s perceived silence on these incidents with its vocal condemnation of alleged oppression faced by students in Jharkhand. She questioned the selective outrage, suggesting that some only show concern when incidents can be framed against the country or its leadership. “This hypocrisy in the film industry will not work,” she asserted, urging the same level of empathy for the children in Jharkhand as was shown for the events at Jantar Mantar.
Furthermore, Ranaut justified her “lomdi” comment by referencing Shah’s consistent focus on Pakistan in his public statements. She questioned the enduring nature of his “love story with Pakistan,” asking, “When will this love story with Pakistan end? He is always obsessed with his love for Pakistan. So many years have passed since Partition, so why hasn’t this love story ended yet?” This line of questioning underscores Ranaut’s perception of Shah’s allegiances and his recurring thematic concerns.
The underlying catalyst for this ongoing public spat was Naseeruddin Shah’s earlier strong condemnation of alleged police brutality against students protesting at Jantar Mantar. These students were demonstrating as part of a CJP-led initiative against the NEET paper leak. Ranaut’s latest comments serve to deepen the ideological divide and intensify the public debate between these prominent figures in the Indian entertainment industry.
