Kangana Ranaut has spoken out against the targeting of women through personal attacks and character assassination amid the controversy surrounding actor Trisha Krishnan and remarks linked to Tamil Nadu politics.
The BJP MP and actor did not name Trisha directly, but while speaking to reporters in Kullu, Kangana appeared to refer to the controversy and argued that women often bear the brunt of public attacks even when an alleged relationship involves two people.
Her comments came shortly after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor-politician Vijay warned against derogatory or double-meaning remarks directed at women, saying such comments should invite legal consequences.
Kangana Ranaut Says Women Are Often Targeted
Speaking after chairing a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Kullu, Kangana highlighted what she described as a broader pattern of character attacks against women.
“You have seen what happened in Tamil Nadu, where a very respected artist and actress was involved in a matter where the relationship was between both parties. However, when it comes to abuses and character assassination, it is always the woman who is targeted,” Kangana said.
Although her statement did not explicitly identify Trisha, her remarks came in the wake of the controversy involving the actor and comments made during a political gathering in Tamil Nadu.
Kangana further argued that the problem extends beyond India and affects women across professions and positions of influence.
“We all know that this is not restricted to India alone and is prevalent worldwide that character of working women, successful women, actors, politicians, women at the position of power and authority is targeted to bring her down,” she added.
What Triggered the Trisha Controversy?
The controversy centres on remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin during a DMK protest gathering in Thanjavur over the Cauvery water dispute and Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu project.
During the event, a reference to Trisha reportedly emerged from the crowd while Udhayanidhi was addressing the gathering. He subsequently made a comment in Tamil that was widely interpreted as having a double meaning.
Udhayanidhi later maintained that his reference was to the Cauvery water issue.
The remarks nevertheless triggered a political and social media controversy, with critics accusing him of making an inappropriate comment involving a woman in a public setting.
The incident subsequently moved into the legal sphere, with a case being registered over the speech. Udhayanidhi was arrested from his Chennai residence on August 4 and was later granted bail.
Vijay Warns Against Derogatory Remarks About Women
The controversy also drew a response from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.
Speaking in the state Assembly, Vijay said political opponents could engage in strong criticism but should not cross the line into defamatory or abusive remarks directed at women.
He warned that personal attacks, double-meaning comments and derogatory language targeting women could result in legal action.
The statement added another dimension to an already politically charged controversy involving prominent figures from Tamil Nadu’s political and entertainment circles.
Kangana Raises a Larger Question About Women in Public Life
Kangana’s comments shifted the focus from the individual controversy to the broader issue of how women are treated when their personal lives become part of public discussion.
Her argument was that criticism frequently moves beyond a person’s professional conduct and becomes an attack on character, particularly when the individual is a woman.
The actor-turned-politician has herself been involved in several public controversies and has previously spoken about personal attacks directed at women in the entertainment and political spheres.
Her latest remarks therefore place the Trisha controversy within a larger debate over sexism, public scrutiny and the boundaries of political criticism.
At the heart of Kangana’s statement was a simple question: when controversies involve more than one person, why does public condemnation so often focus disproportionately on the woman?
