Actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has taken a swipe at comedian Kunal Kamra, accusing him of seeking “two minutes of fame” after his parody of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde sparked political controversy, protests, and legal consequences.
Ranaut, a BJP MP from Mandi, questioned the credibility of individuals who, in her view, seek attention through insults. “Who are these people, and what are their credentials? If they can write, they should do so in literature… Abusing people and our culture in the name of comedy is unacceptable,” she remarked.
Her comments came in the wake of an FIR filed against Kamra over a satirical song he performed during a show. The parody, set to the tune of a song from Dil Toh Pagal Hai, referred to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor) due to his split from Shiv Sena. The comments sparked outrage among Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers, who vandalized Habitat Studio in Mumbai, where Kamra performed. Police have arrested 12 individuals and booked 40 others in connection with the violence.
The incident has sparked strong reactions from political leaders. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned Kamra, accusing him of attempting to “belittle” Shinde. “Insulting people holding constitutional posts to create disturbances will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken as per law,” Fadnavis stated.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray came to Kamra’s defense, asserting that the comedian was simply expressing public sentiment. “He has not done anything wrong. These traitors (referring to the Shinde-led faction) conveniently ignore those who have insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Thackeray said.
Meanwhile, Habitat Studio announced it would temporarily close, stating it was “shocked and worried” after being targeted over Kamra’s performance. The venue distanced itself from the controversial remarks, clarifying that it had no involvement in the creation of the video that ignited the backlash.
Despite the legal action and political storm, Kamra remains unapologetic. “I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Deputy CM Ajit Pawar himself has said about Eknath Shinde. I don’t fear this mob, and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down,” he stated.
The police have issued a summons to Kamra, and further legal proceedings are anticipated. The case has reignited discussions on free speech in India, with supporters arguing that political satire should not lead to criminal charges.
