Kangana Ranaut, known for her outspoken nature, recently delved into topics of insecurity, jealousy, and the diminishing camaraderie within the film industry. During a candid conversation, the actress-politician highlighted Deepika Padukone as a contemporary from whom she learned valuable lessons early in her Bollywood career.
Insecurity as a State of Mind
Reflecting on why she has never felt threatened by fellow actors, Kangana explained that insecurity is a mental state rather than a reflection of one's achievements. "I get so shocked with people, that they come from such an insecure space. It actually has nothing to do with what you have or don't have. It's just a state of mind," she told Entertainment Live.
Choosing Not to Let Emotions Take Over
The Emergency actress acknowledged that emotions like jealousy and insecurity are natural but emphasized that individuals have a choice in whether they allow these feelings to dominate. "Insecurity, jealousy, feeling less than others — everybody has these emotions. But allowing them to take over your mind is a choice. I have never agreed with that choice," she said.
Kangana described insecurity as one of the most unattractive traits a person can possess. "I've seen very attractive and confident people, who have everything going for them, suddenly make themselves look so small because of crippling insecurity. It takes away their wisdom and charm," she remarked.
Mentoring and Learning from Others
The actress revealed that she made a conscious decision early in life to avoid being consumed by such feelings. "I always made a conscious choice that I will never put myself in that place. Whether I have something or I don't have something, I will never become that person," she said.
According to Kangana, people should either mentor those who are less experienced or learn from those who are more talented. "If someone is less talented than me, then they should get my protection. I should treat them like a mentor would. And if someone is more talented than me, naturally I should learn from them and receive their guidance. Then where is the question of insecurity?" she asked.
Learning from Deepika Padukone
Kangana also shared that she has consciously absorbed qualities she admired in her peers, including Deepika Padukone. "When I came from home, I didn't know anything. I was a 15-16-year-old girl from the mountains. Even forming meaningful sentences was a challenge. Whatever I have learnt, I learnt by observing people," she said.
Referring to Deepika, Kangana added, "Even when it came to my contemporaries, like Deepika and others, they had an athletic background. I came from a science background. I would see how disciplined they were with exercise and fitness. I always learnt from my contemporaries."
She stressed that growth becomes impossible when people refuse to acknowledge the strengths of others. "If you don't acknowledge someone's beauty, talent or qualities, you stop those qualities from coming to you as well. First acknowledge them. Say, 'You are beautiful, you are talented.' Only then can you learn from them," she explained.
Negativity in Today's Generation
The actress lamented the growing culture of competitiveness and negativity in the entertainment industry. Recalling how actors from previous generations maintained friendships despite being rivals, Kangana said, "People from the 70s, 80s and even the 90s used to be friends. Today, people don't want to talk to each other. Girls don't want to compliment each other. They behave as if the other person shouldn't even exist."
She argued that wishing for someone else's talent to be hidden or ignored ultimately harms the person harbouring those thoughts. "If you feel that somebody's talent should not be seen, that people shouldn't know about them, then that negativity becomes your unconscious karma. I believe the world is your own making," she said.
Kangana concluded by urging people to consciously choose positivity over resentment. "I see so much negativity around me, especially among the younger generation. It's not good. This feeling of jealousy and resentment is toxic. We should consciously eradicate it," she said.
