Kangana Ranaut attacks Kunal Kamra amid Shinde remark row: 'Hasn't done anything in life'

Actor-turned-MP Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday hit out at comedian Kunal Kamra for his remarks against Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, which snowballed into a massive controversy in the state.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Ranaut, who is an MP from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, said that disgracing anyone in the name of comedy is in bad taste.

"You may be anyone but disrespecting anyone (is not good). You are disgracing someone in the name of comedy, you are disregarding what all he has done. Shinde ji used to drive an auto rickshaw a while ago. Today he has made it till here on his own. What are his (Kamra's) credentials?" she asked.

Ranaut also said that it was incorrect to draw parallels between the demolition of some parts of The Habitat Centre, where the performance took place, and a similar bulldozer action against her back in 2020.

"(Demolition of my office) was a completely illegal activity, this is absolutely legal. They can't be clubbed together," she added.

Strongly denouncing Kamra's remarks, Kangana said it is not right to mock others in the name of comedy.

"Who are these people who haven't done anything in life? If they can write, I'd say write literature or comedy scenes in films. Abusing in the name of comedy, mocking our scriptures in the name of comedy, making fun of people, mothers and sisters (is not right)," Ranaut said, also referring to controversial remarks made by Ranveer Allahabadia at the same venue a few months ago.

The actor's remarks come a day after a heated row erupted in Maharashtra over a video of Kamra mocking Shinde during his performance at The Habitat centre in Mumbai.

In his standup, which he originally performed in January, Kamra did a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai," apparently referring to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor).

He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena and NCP splits.

The video triggered furore among Shiv Sena supporters who vandalized the venue where Kamra had performed and warned of stern action against the comedian.

Top political leaders from the state, including Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized the remarks.

Fadnavis said that Kamra should apologise for his "low level comedy".