Kangana Ranaut: I don't know if Saif Ali Khan is being misinformed, or simply naïve

Stuti Srivastava | Jul 22, 2017, 12:01 IST
The ongoing nepotism debate just keeps getting uglier by time. After Saif Ali Khan, Karan Johar and Varun Dhawan as a gig chanted "nepotism rocks" multiple times during an event in New York, a backlash of sorts followed as the internet called out the three for taking digs at 'Queen' actress Kangana Ranaut.

While Varun and KJo apologised for the same, Saif said that he has apologised to Kangana and owes no apology to anyone else. Saif, in an open letter, went on to reiterate the fact that nepotism is an idea promoted by media and not by the industry insiders.

However, the actor's open letter didn't go too well down with Kangana, and reacting to the letter she took to a leading tabloid and penned another open letter. She wrote, "All the debate and exchange of thoughts on nepotism is exasperating but healthy. While I enjoyed some of the perspectives on this subject, I did find a few disturbing ones. This morning, I woke up to one such open letter (circulating online), written by Saif Ali Khan. "

She further added, "The last time I was deeply pained and upset about this issue was when Mr Karan Johar wrote a blog on it and even once declared in an interview that there are many criteria for excelling in the film business. Talent is not one of them."

Talking about Saif's open letter, Kangana wrote, "I don't know if he was being misinformed, or simply naïve, but to discredit the likes of Mr Dilip Kumar, Mr K Asif, Mr Bimal Roy, Mr Satyajit Ray, Mr Guru Dutt, and many more, whose talent and exceptional abilities have formed the spine of our contemporary film business, is absolutely bizarre."

Continued Kangana, "Even in today's times, there are plenty of examples where it has repeatedly been proven that beyond the superficiality of branded clothes, polished accents, and a sanitised upbringing, exists grit, genuine hard-work, diligence, eagerness to learn, and the gigantic power of the human spirit. Many examples, all over the world, in every field, are a testimony to that. My dear friend Saif has written a letter on this topic and I would like to share my perspective. My request is that people must not misconstrue this and pit us against each other."

She also clarified that it was just a perspective and not a clash. "This is just a healthy exchange of ideas, and not a clash between individuals," added Kangana.

Kangana further reiterated, "Saif, in your letter you mentioned that, “I apologised to Kangana, and I don't owe anyone any explanation, and this issue is over.” But this is not my issue alone.Nepotism is a practice where people tend to act upon temperamental human emotions, rather than intellectual tendencies. Businesses that are run by human emotions and not by great value-systems, might gain superficial profits. However, they cannot be truly productive and tap into the true potential of a nation of more than 1.3 billion people."

"Nepotism, on many levels, fails the test of objectivity and rationale. I have acquired these values from the ones who have found great success and discovered a higher truth, much before me. These values are in the public domain, and no one has a copyright on them," continued the actress.


















CREDITS: MID-DAY

Copyright © 2021 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
All rights reserved.