Kangana Ranut has never shied away from speaking her mind. But that’s now got her in court on the other side of a defamation complaint.
Bollywood star and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has said she “regrets the misunderstanding” caused by her 2021 tweet about the farmers’ protests. Appearing before a Bathinda court, Ranaut insisted she had no intention to insult anyone and that her comments were “misinterpreted.”
Who is the complainant?
The case was filed by Mahinder Kaur, a 73-year-old farmer from Punjab, who alleged that Ranaut wrongly identified her as Bilkis Bano. Bano is popularly known as the “Shaheen Bagh Dadi” and accused her of being a “paid protester.” Ranaut had shared a meme claiming women like Kaur were “available for ₹100” to attend protests. Kaur said the tweet humiliated her and damaged her reputation, prompting a legal complaint that has followed Ranaut for nearly four years.
In court, Ranaut’s lawyer argued that the tweet was a general comment, not aimed at any specific person, and that the actor had since expressed regret for the confusion it caused. She told reporters afterward that she “respected every mother” and that the post “should not be blown out of proportion.”
Free speech and the question of accountability
The case, however, has reignited debate over celebrity accountability on social media. Critics say Ranaut’s massive following gives her words disproportionate weight, especially during a politically charged movement like the 2020-21 farmers’ protests, when thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh camped at Delhi’s borders demanding the repeal of new farm laws. At the time, social media became a battleground of narratives, with Ranaut among the loudest defenders of the government’s position.
For Kaur, the matter was personal. She told reporters that being branded a “paid protester” undermined her dignity and the sincerity of the farmers’ cause. “We were protesting for our rights, not for money,” she said.
As the case drags on, Ranaut’s “regret” may not be enough to settle the matter legally. What began as a viral post is now a cautionary tale about the risks of weaponising social media commentary, even for those used to commanding headlines.
Lead image: Courtesy: @KanganaTeam