Hansal Mehta Opens Up About His Equation with Kangana Ranaut: 'The Camera Loves Her'

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta recently spoke about his relationship with actor Kangana Ranaut, despite their past differences.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta recently spoke about his relationship with actor Kangana Ranaut, despite their past differences.

Source : IMDb

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta recently spoke about his relationship with actor Kangana Ranaut, despite their past differences. In an interview with The Indian Express, Mehta acknowledged Kangana’s immense screen presence, calling her "magic in front of the camera."

Hansal and Kangana, who collaborated on the 2017 film Simran, had a public fallout. However, despite their disagreements, the filmmaker admitted that he remains fond of her.

Hansal Mehta on Kangana Ranaut’s Acting Talent

Praising Kangana, Mehta said, "I am very fond of her. I cannot describe… the camera loves her. Even outside the Lok Sabha, the camera loves her. She herself doesn’t realize the magic she can create in front of the camera. We did not get along—humari nahi bani, hota hai (we couldn’t bond, it happens). I didn’t get along with my ex-wife either. But she is a better person than I am."

Speaking about their film Simran, Mehta added, "We do fight, but I am fond of her. Very fond of her. It is not a judgment on the other person. The process of making the film with her was not very good. The process stays with you. I had to pay off debts, and it was a bit of a painful journey. But her fans tell me it was the best film I have made."

Hansal Mehta on Kangana’s Influence Over Simran

In 2022, during an interview with Mashable India, Mehta addressed rumors that Kangana had taken over Simran’s editing. He clarified, "She did not take over the edit, to be fair to her. But there was nothing to take over in the edit. We only had the material that she had shot."

He further commented on her recent film choices, stating, "She is a very talented, really good actor, but I feel she has limited herself by making films about herself. Not every character needs to reflect what you want to believe you are."

About Simran

'Simran' (2017) is a heist drama directed by Hansal Mehta, inspired by the real-life story of Sandeep Kaur, a woman who turned to bank robbery after accumulating gambling debts. The film, starring Kangana Ranaut in the lead role, received mixed reviews but was praised for her performance.

Hansal Mehta and Kangana Ranaut’s Recent Social Media Spat

Recently, Mehta and Kangana engaged in a public disagreement on social media regarding comedian Kunal Kamra’s stand-up act. Mehta criticized an abusive tweet targeting Kamra on X (formerly Twitter). When asked about the demolition of Kangana’s house in Mumbai, Mehta responded,

"Was her house vandalized? Did goons enter her premises? Did they do this to challenge her freedom of expression or for alleged FSI violations? Please enlighten me. Maybe I don’t know the facts."

Kangana responded by resharing his tweet and stating that she had faced abuse and witnessed her home being torn down. She also criticized Mehta, calling him "bitter and stupid."