Kangana Ranaut on refusing to sign petition supporting Deepika Padukone for Padmavati: I have my own set of opinions

Kangana Ranaut has refused to sign the petition supporting Deepika Padukone in the Padmavati controversy.

Kangana Ranaut is in no mood to sign a petition supporting Deepika Padukone in the entire Padmavati row. This, after veterans like Hema Malini and Shabana Azmi to her contemporaries including Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt and several other Bollywood female actors have rallied behind Deepika after she received death threats over her upcoming magnum opus, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Not just by strong words, these actors have now expressed their solidarity with Deepika through a signed petition, addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It has been learnt that Shabana took the initiative for the petition, requesting the PM for Deepika’s protection. The National award-winning actor got a host of female stars to sign the petition but the one name missing is of Kangana Ranaut, also Deepika’s arch-rival.

Kangana, who is currently busy shooting for her next ambitious project Manikarnika: Queen of Jhansi explained to indianexpress.com, her reason for not signing the petition. “I was filming Manikarnika in Jodhpur, got a call from my dear friend Anushka Sharma to sign the petition written by Ms Shabana Azmi, I explained to Anushka that Deepika Padukone has all my support but I am a bit wary of Shabana Azmi’s investment in left wing vs right wing politics. I have my own set of ideas and opinions about the current situation in our country, I am on the fence about many things and being a part of a feminist movement called ‘Deepika bachao’ lead by someone who character assassinated me when I was bullied, seems to be one of them. Anushka understood but I am glad they reached out to me, like I said Deepika has all my support I am an individual perfectly capable of supporting who I like without anyone’s support,” Kangana said.

The development is seen as the obvious result of Deepika and Kangana’s personal history, which involves various comments by the latter where she said she shares no friendship with the Piku actor.

It all began in 2014, when Deepika dedicated her win for Happy New Year to Kangana, whose hit film Queen had released the same year. When asked for Kangana’s reaction on Deepika’s gesture, the actor said she would have preferred had her contemporary praised her performance than doing the same on a stage.

While Deepika has maintained silence on her equation with Kangana, the Tanu Weds Manu actor has candidly admitted for a lack of any personal bond between her.

Kangana has also, so far, kept mum on the death threats that Deepika was subjected to two weeks ago. The Bajirao Mastani actor and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali received grave threats by some fringe and political groups, who have raised objection to the portrayal of Queen Padmini in Padmavati, whose release has now become a mystery.