Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and actor Kangana Ranaut engaged in a heated exchange on social media following the controversy surrounding comedian Kunal Kamra’s stand-up act. The dispute arose after Kamra joked about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, leading to the vandalism and subsequent demolition of the Mumbai studio where he performed.
Mehta, who has been vocal in support of Kamra, faced criticism from a user on X (formerly Twitter) for not showing the same support when Kangana’s house was demolished in 2020. This sparked a war of words between the filmmaker and the actor.
Hansal Mehta’s Response on Kangana’s House Demolition
Hansal Mehta shared an abusive post targeting Kamra and condemned it. When a user questioned his silence on Kangana’s house demolition, he responded, “Was her house vandalised? Did goons enter her premises? Did they do this to challenge her freedom of expression or for alleged FSI violations? Please enlighten me. Maybe I don’t know the facts.”
Kangana Hits Back
In response, Kangana recalled how her Mumbai home was demolished and accused Mehta of insensitivity. She shared, “They called me names like h*******r, threatened me, served a notice late in the night to my watchman, and the next morning, before courts could open, bulldozers demolished the entire house. The High Court called the demolition completely illegal. They laughed at it and raised a toast to my pain and public humiliation.”
Kangana further criticized Mehta, calling him “bitter and stupid” and accusing him of spreading “dumb lies and agendas.” She urged him to stay out of her personal matters. Mehta, in turn, replied, “Get well soon.”
Background: Kangana’s House Demolition in 2020
In 2020, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), under the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena government, demolished alleged illegal portions of Kangana’s Bandra bungalow. The action came amid her public spat with the Shiv Sena leadership.
Hansal Mehta’s Support for Kunal Kamra
Hansal Mehta extended support to Kunal Kamra, recalling his own experience with political backlash. He shared that after his 2000 film Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, he was assaulted and forced to apologize, while his office was vandalized by the undivided Shiv Sena.
The online spat highlights the deep political and ideological divisions in Bollywood, with social media becoming a battleground for artists and filmmakers expressing their views.