Kangana Ranaut and Shahid Kapoor’s pairing in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Rangoon generated plenty of attention when the film was released in 2017. But it was not only their on-screen chemistry that made headlines. During the film’s promotional campaign, Kangana made some unusually candid comments about working with Shahid, including her experience filming an intimate scene with him and sharing accommodation at a remote shooting location.
Her remarks attracted considerable attention at the time and contributed to speculation about tension between the two actors.
Kangana Ranaut and Shahid Kapoor Worked Together in Rangoon
Released in 2017, Rangoon was a period drama directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and featured Kangana Ranaut, Shahid Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles.
The film was set against the backdrop of World War II and required its cast to shoot in locations that were considerably removed from the conveniences of a typical urban production.
Kangana and Shahid also shared intimate moments on screen, including a kissing sequence that became a talking point during the movie’s promotional period.
Kangana Had a Blunt Take on Their Kissing Scene
In an interview with DNA around the film’s release, Kangana spoke openly about filming intimate scenes and admitted that she did not particularly enjoy shooting them.
She described the process as difficult because actors who normally maintain a formal professional relationship suddenly have to perform physically intimate scenes together.
Kangana then turned her attention to Shahid’s moustache, which he had grown for his character in Rangoon. She jokingly described it as extremely unpleasant while recalling the experience of filming their kiss.
She reportedly called the moustache “horrible” and described the overall experience in exaggeratedly comic terms, saying it was “not a turn-off but a tragedy of different level.”
Her comments were widely picked up because of their unusually candid tone.
She Also Recalled Sharing a Cottage With Shahid
Kangana’s comments were not limited to the kissing scene. She also discussed what it was like to share accommodation with Shahid and their respective teams during filming in a remote location.
According to the interview, the production had set up a makeshift cottage where the actors stayed along with members of their teams.
For Kangana, the arrangement was far from relaxing.
She recalled waking up to loud hip-hop music while Shahid exercised, and said that he would also listen to trance and techno music. The contrasting routines eventually became frustrating for her.
Kangana described sharing the cottage with Shahid as a “nightmare” and said she had wanted to move elsewhere.
Their Personalities Were Reportedly Very Different
The actress also spoke about the differences between her personality and Shahid’s while discussing the challenges of working in such an isolated environment.
Kangana said she initially found the remote location difficult because there was little connectivity and she had been accustomed to urban surroundings. However, she eventually adjusted, partly because of her upbringing in the hills.
She suggested that Shahid had a different experience with the location and said he could appear extremely friendly on some days and more suspicious or reserved on others.
Kangana also acknowledged that she herself could become withdrawn at times.
The Comments Fueled Talk of Tension
Because Kangana was so frank about her co-star, her interview comments became part of the wider media narrative surrounding their working relationship.
The two actors were frequently described in reports as having very different personalities, and their comments during Rangoon promotions encouraged speculation that they did not particularly enjoy each other’s company.
However, candid comments about difficult working conditions or contrasting personalities do not necessarily establish a serious personal feud.
How Shahid Kapoor Responded
Shahid was subsequently asked about Kangana’s remarks, particularly her comments concerning their kissing scene.
Rather than escalating the matter publicly, he reportedly played down the situation and indicated that things were fine between them.
At the time, Shahid also spoke about the importance of maintaining professional relationships with co-stars and suggested that Kangana should preserve good relations within the industry.
His response helped prevent the promotional controversy from turning into a larger public confrontation between the two actors.
Rangoon Remains an Unusual Chapter in Their Careers
Although Rangoon did not become the commercial success its star-studded cast might have suggested, the film remains notable for its performances, Bhardwaj’s distinctive filmmaking style and the unusual dynamic between its principal actors.
For Kangana and Shahid, the film also produced one of those rare promotional periods when candid interviews became almost as talked about as the movie itself.
Years later, their comments remain memorable largely because Kangana was unusually direct about the practical realities of filming intimate scenes and living together with a co-star in a remote production location.
The Bottom Line
Kangana Ranaut’s remarks about Shahid Kapoor during the Rangoon promotions were blunt, humorous and, at times, unflattering. She described their kissing scene as an uncomfortable experience, joked about Shahid’s moustache and recalled sharing a remote cottage with him as a “nightmare.”
