Kangana Ranaut, a BJP Member of Parliament from Mandi [3], said Monday she responded to a resurfaced video of her partying in Cannes [1].
The reaction highlights the tension between the public persona of Indian political figures and their pre-political lives. As Ranaut has aligned herself with nationalist ideologies, critics have used archival footage to question the consistency of her ideological shift.
The video in question was recorded in 2018 [2] during a party in Cannes, France [1]. The footage recently regained traction on social media, leading to trolling and criticism regarding her past lifestyle and behavior.
Ranaut addressed the controversy by describing her personal and spiritual evolution. She said, "I was a moderate Hindu, mujhe sanghi banna hai" [1]. This statement marks her transition from what she termed a moderate stance to that of an "awakened Hindu" [1].
By framing the video as a relic of a previous version of herself, Ranaut sought to neutralize the criticism. She said the shift in her identity is a reflection of her growth, and her current political and religious convictions [1].
The lawmaker continues to represent the Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh [3] while maintaining a high-profile presence in both the film industry and national politics. The discourse surrounding the 2018 video underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by celebrities who transition into legislative roles within the BJP.
“"I was a moderate Hindu, mujhe sanghi banna hai."”
Ranaut's response is a strategic effort to rebrand her past as a period of ideological immaturity. By explicitly using the term 'sanghi'—associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—she is signaling a total commitment to Hindutva nationalism, effectively turning a potential liability (the party video) into a narrative of spiritual and political awakening.
