Kangana Ranaut, often celebrated as one of the most fearless actors of her generation, recently opened up about the double-edged sword of being typecast as the “edgy girl” in the early phase of her career.
In a conversation with SCREEN, the actor reflected on her memorable performances in films like Gangster, Woh Lamhe, and Fashion, admitting that she was “amazingly known” for playing characters that were “extremely dark and disturbed, perhaps neurotic.”
‘I Didn’t Find them Glamorous’
Looking back at her debut in Gangster (2006) and her powerful performance in Fashion (2008), for which she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, Kangana recalled a distinct lack of glamour attached to her roles.
“I never really found them particularly glamorous,” she told the publication. “I would often be wearing T-shirts and jeans, no makeup, haggard, unkempt… broken, maybe suicidal. That was my zone—playing girls who are constantly on the verge of a breakdown.”
While many actresses struggle to break free from the “glam doll” image, Kangana was dealing with the opposite problem. “I was amazingly known for that. I was this edgy girl, the slightly neurotic, suicidal girl,” she added.
The ‘Conscious’ Shift to Fun
However, Kangana revealed that she had to work hard to shed that tag to prove her range. “It was amazing to feel that and be loved for that. But I had to metamorphose consciously,” she explained.
She realized the need to show the industry and the audience that she could also be the “girl next door” who can “breathe, smile and have fun.”
This “metamorphosis” materialized spectacularly with the blockbuster Tanu Weds Manu (2011) and its sequel Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015). In the first film, she played the quintessential Haryanvi girl Tanu, and in the sequel, she pulled off the astonishing double role of the feisty Tanu and the stoic Datto—a performance that earned her a second National Film Award for Best Actress.
The ‘Panga’ of Queen
Perhaps the biggest turning point in her “metamorphosis” was Queen (2014). The film, about a naïve Delhi girl finding herself alone on her honeymoon, required Kangana to master a delicate tonal balance that the scripts of 2006 would have avoided.
“When I started my career, everything had to be hysteria, everything had to be high voltage emotion. But with Queen, I realized you can be normal and act. You don’t have to have a suicide attempt to show the audience that you are a ‘good actress’,” she reflected.
She credited the film’s director, Vikas Bahl, for trusting her with a role that was the “complete opposite” of what she was known for.
From Edgy to Extraordinary
Kangana’s journey from the dark alleys of Gangster to the vibrant weddings of Tanu Weds Manu is a testament to her versatility. By consciously breaking her mold, she paved the way for a career that is not easily defined.
Her upcoming slate continues to reflect this unpredictability, including the ambitious political drama Emergency, in which she also makes her directorial debut.
