She Conquers

Kangana Ranaut is no push over. One of the highest paid actors in Bollywood talks to L’officiel about the art of surviving amongst the big surnames, the bullies and the cliques in the industry.

- Neena Haridas

They say that behind every successful man is a woman. There probably has never been a phrase more sexist or demeaning to women. If anything the cliche is nothing more than a back-handed compliment to those women who “make successful men” by cooking, washing and breeding for them while quietly tiptoeing five steps behind the glory of their men. Such is the deep-rooted patriarchy and hypocrisy of our society that despite decades of the so-called feminist movements, endless television debates, tedious essays and speeches we are yet to come up with an answer to who could possibly be behind a successful woman. That’s because behind every self-made, successful woman, there is a woman too: herself. And that success comes neatly packaged with rumours, controversies and some disgruntled lovers.

No, this is not yet another preachy piece on women empowerment. We have enough and more working in that department.

This is the story of actress Kangana Ranaut. With several awards, including four national awards, in her kitty, Kangana sits lightly on her stardom. The diva, who stands before the camera rolling out her attitude and power, is now relaxed in her white joggers offering to make a cup of tea. “Sugar, milk?” she asks, sinking into the sofa and crouching into a fetal position. If one didn’t know that this star from the hills of Himachal is one the highest paid actors in Bollywood today, all you would have seen is a child-woman playing with her curly hair that is in desperate need of a colour retouch. But then Kangana would rather walk in urchin blonde than let her hair be coloured anywhere but Milan.