Snehashish roy
Actor-politician and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has responded to criticism over a resurfaced video from the 2018 Cannes Film Festival after-party, saying the clip reflects a different phase of her life when she considered herself a “moderate Hindu”. Defending her personal and ideological transformation, Kangana said people have the right to evolve over time and that she now identifies as an “awakened Hindu” who consciously embraces a different set of beliefs.
The controversy began after an old video showing Kangana dancing at a Cannes after-party resurfaced on social media. The clip gained traction in the wake of backlash over her recent comments on Gen Z protesters, with critics accusing the actor of hypocrisy by contrasting her current conservative views with her past public appearances.
Responding through a video shared on social media, Kangana rejected the criticism, saying there was nothing contradictory about changing one’s worldview. “I was a moderate Hindu then. Today I want to become a Sanghi,” she said, adding that every individual has the constitutional right to choose their beliefs and undergo personal transformation. According to the actor, ideological evolution is a natural part of life and should not be viewed as inconsistency.
Kangana also argued that critics were deliberately using old videos to undermine her present-day political and religious views. She maintained that the person seen in the 2018 footage represented a younger version of herself and that her experiences over the years had fundamentally altered her outlook. Describing herself as an “awakened Hindu”, she said she had become more disciplined and spiritually aware than she was during her early years in the film industry.
The actor further defended her right to change, saying no one questions individuals who alter their political or ideological affiliations over time. She added that people often evolve after exposure to new ideas, experiences and circumstances, and insisted that her own journey should be viewed through the same lens. Kangana also remarked that she was under no obligation to justify actions from nearly a decade ago simply because they were now being recirculated online.
The latest statement comes amid a series of controversies involving the BJP MP. In recent weeks, Kangana has faced criticism over her “Generation Gutter” remarks aimed at a section of Gen Z protesters, her exchanges with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das, and a cryptic Instagram post that many believed targeted actor Sonakshi Sinha. The resurfaced Cannes video became another focal point in the wider debate surrounding her recent public statements.
As expected, Kangana’s remarks divided social media. Supporters praised her for openly acknowledging that her beliefs had changed and defended her right to evolve ideologically. Critics, however, accused her of attempting to distance herself from her past while continuing to make polarising political statements. The debate has once again highlighted how public figures’ old social media clips and videos are increasingly being revisited and judged through the lens of their current positions.