Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has come out in support of Bihar MLA and singer Maithili Thakur after the politician faced criticism on social media over her recent appearance in a luxury car.
The controversy began after Thakur was reportedly seen arriving at the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal in Mumbai in a blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The luxury SUV, depending on its variant and specifications, can cost several crore rupees in India. Images and videos of Thakur’s arrival quickly circulated online, prompting questions from some social media users about her finances and lifestyle.
Ranaut subsequently addressed the criticism through her Instagram Stories, questioning why politicians are expected to live modestly simply because they are involved in public service.
Kangana Ranaut Speaks Out in Maithili Thakur’s Support
In her social media post, Ranaut criticised the reactions to Thakur’s luxury car appearance and argued that politicians can have professional careers and personal sources of income alongside their public responsibilities.
Ranaut’s comments centred on the idea that serving the public does not require an elected representative to give up personal success or maintain a deliberately modest lifestyle.
She questioned the expectation that politicians should remain financially deprived despite having careers and achievements outside politics. Ranaut also argued that a politician’s personal lifestyle should not automatically be equated with the use of public money.
Her remarks came as online discussion around Thakur’s car intensified, with social media users debating the lifestyle of elected representatives and the scrutiny faced by public figures.
Why Maithili Thakur Faced Social Media Backlash
Maithili Thakur’s appearance in the luxury vehicle became a talking point largely because of the contrast between her relatively recent entry into electoral politics and the high value associated with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Some online reactions questioned how she could afford such a vehicle after entering politics. However, criticism surrounding the car does not by itself establish how the vehicle was acquired, who owns it or what source of funds was involved.
Thakur’s political career is also only one part of her professional journey. Before entering electoral politics, she had already established herself as a singer and digital creator with a substantial audience.
Who Is Maithili Thakur?
Maithili Thakur is a singer from Madhubani, Bihar, known for performing folk, classical and devotional music.
She gained wider recognition after participating in the television singing reality show Rising Star India in 2017. She subsequently built a significant online following through platforms such as YouTube, where she has continued to share performances of traditional and devotional songs.
Her popularity as a singer preceded her entry into politics, giving her an established public profile beyond her political career.
According to the supplied report, Thakur contested the 2025 Bihar Assembly election as a BJP candidate and defeated RJD’s Binod Mishra. She subsequently entered the Bihar Legislative Assembly and has been described as the state’s youngest MLA.
Kangana Ranaut Has Previously Spoken About Online Scrutiny
Ranaut’s defence of Thakur is also in line with her previous public comments on controversies involving celebrities and other women in the public eye.
The actor-turned-politician has frequently used social media to comment on issues involving public figures. In another recent instance, she spoke about the online treatment of actor Trisha Krishnan and criticised what she described as disproportionate scrutiny of women.
In the latest controversy, Ranaut has similarly focused on the criticism directed at Thakur, arguing that a public figure’s personal lifestyle should not automatically invalidate their work in public service.
The debate surrounding Thakur, meanwhile, highlights the broader scrutiny elected representatives can face over their personal wealth, lifestyle and spending—particularly when those details become visible on social media.
