Kangana Ranaut Defends Controversial Comments on Youth Amid Protests

Kangana Ranaut has responded to criticism over her remarks about the youth during recent protests, clarifying that her comments were not aimed at all young people but rather specific individuals. In a video, she highlighted the low turnout of Gen Z at the protests and defended her statements against backlash. Ranaut also referenced actress Shabana Azmi's participation, emphasizing the diverse age groups involved. Her latest remarks aim to shift the focus towards generational differences in public expression and protest behavior.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 13, 2026, 18:48 IST

Kangana Ranaut Clarifies Remarks on Youth Protests

Actress and BJP Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut has once again addressed her contentious statements regarding recent protests, which drew criticism for her remarks about the younger generation. Ranaut had previously labeled certain young individuals as "generation gutter," a comment that ignited backlash from opposition figures and the public alike. In her defense, she clarified that her remarks were not directed at the entire Gen Z demographic but were aimed at specific individuals whose actions and language during the protests she deemed inappropriate.

In a video posted on her Instagram stories, Ranaut highlighted the number of young people who attended the protest at Jantar Mantar. She noted that while the youth population in India is approximately 300 to 350 million, only around 10,000 participated in the protest, with a significant portion being older individuals. She argued that it was misleading to categorize the protest as a Gen Z event when only a small percentage of the attendees were from that age group. Ranaut reiterated that her previous comments were targeted at a specific subset and not a generalization about all young people.

Ranaut challenged her critics to find any instance where she explicitly targeted the entire generation. She expressed her belief that it is common sense that not all young individuals can be classified as either entirely good or bad. Her comments also referenced actress Shabana Azmi, who was actively involved in the protests, showcasing the variety of age groups present. Azmi, at 75 years old, was seen engaging with protesters during the march towards Parliament on July 20.

Earlier, Ranaut had criticized the protests, describing the behavior and language of some participants as unusually aggressive. After facing backlash, she clarified that her comments were not meant to insult all attendees of the Jantar Mantar protest regarding the NEET UG paper leak. She emphasized that her remarks were specifically directed at those who self-identify in derogatory terms, questioning why they would take offense at her observations about their conduct. With her latest clarification, Ranaut aims to redirect the conversation towards generational differences in expression and the dynamics of public protests.