Kangana Ranaut has thanked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after the latter reminded actor Jaya Bachchan of the demolition of the actress’s office in Mumbai during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The incident occurred in September 2020, sparking widespread controversy.
Sitharaman recently took to social media to address Jaya Bachchan’s allegations that the government had been neglecting the film industry. Bachchan, a member of the Samajwadi Party, had spoken during the General Discussion on the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Rajya Sabha, where she voiced concerns about the industry’s survival amid rising costs and the closure of single-screen theaters. She urged the government to show more support to the industry and its workers, who were facing hardship due to high expenses.
Bachchan claimed that the government had “ignored” the film industry and had pushed it to the brink of collapse, accusing them of using the industry for their own purposes. She also alleged that the government’s actions were making it difficult for the industry to thrive. The actor appealed for mercy, stressing that cinema, a crucial part of India’s cultural identity, was being unfairly targeted.
In response to these remarks, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reminded Jaya Bachchan about the incident involving Kangana Ranaut’s office demolition. Sitharaman tweeted, “Jaya Ji has alleged that the Film Industry hasn’t been supported by the government. However, she will well remember the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, her alliance partner, in September 2020 in Mumbai, intimidated Ms. Ranaut and demolished her office within 24 hours until the Bombay High Court intervened. Jaya Bachchan Ji must speak to her alliance partners about that.”
Sitharaman’s tweet highlighted the stark contrast between the government’s alleged treatment of the film industry and the struggles Ranaut faced during that period, drawing attention to her personal experience. The tweet also referenced the challenges faced by other celebrities in history, including Hridaynath Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, who faced discrimination or adversity at the hands of political powers.
Kangana Ranaut, who had been vocal about her struggles during the office demolition incident, expressed her gratitude to the Finance Minister for standing by her. Reacting to the tweet, the actress wrote, “Thank you honourable @nsitharaman ji for highlighting all the support and encouragement the film industry is getting from our government. Also, as a woman, you highlighted my struggles, how my constitutional rights were crushed by the arrogant political parties. Thanks a lot.”
Meanwhile, Jaya Bachchan’s plea for the survival of the film industry and its workers has sparked debates around the government’s role in supporting the sector. Despite Ranaut’s support for the government, tensions between the two actors’ differing perspectives on the issue of support for the film industry remain high.
