Kangana Ranaut Says Being An MP Is Costly & Thankless: 'You Need A Job'

Kangana Ranaut reveals the financial strain and emotional pressure of her role as an MP, calling politics an ‘abused profession’ and a ‘very expensive hobby’.

Kangana Ranaut during her recent visit to Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, as she speaks on the challenges of being an MP.

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Bollywood actor-turned-MP Kangana Ranaut has once again stirred conversation with her unfiltered views—this time on her nascent political journey. Speaking candidly about her experience since becoming the Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency, Kangana admitted she isn’t enjoying the role and described politics as a “very expensive hobby.”

In a recent appearance on the YouTube podcast Atman in Ravi (AIR) and an interview with Times Now, Ranaut laid bare her struggles.
“I’m getting a hang of it. I wouldn’t say that I am enjoying it (politics). It’s a very different kind of work, more like social service,” she said, adding that this was never her background.

‘Politics Is the Most Abused Profession’

Ranaut highlighted the emotional and financial toll of her new role.

“I express myself freely. And I think nobody should bully me into not doing so. As a politician? It's the most abused corner of the world. You are so abused all the time. There is no right way of doing anything,” she stated, adding that the relentless criticism deters many young professionals from entering the field.
“That is why not many young people volunteer to do this today. Because it is the most abused profession ever.”

She also revealed how her perception of parliamentary duties clashed with reality.

“When I was offered, I was told that maybe you have to, some 60-70 days you'll have to attend the Parliament, and rest of the time you can do your work… But as we know, now that, it's very demanding,” Ranaut admitted.

No Real Power, High Costs: Kangana on Being an MP

The Queen actor expressed discontent with the limited resources and responsibilities she has as an MP. During her recent visit to flood-hit Mandi, she remarked she had no cabinet support for relief work and later claimed that even panchayat members and MLAs have larger budgets.

“A lot of MPs end up feeling very frustrated, and we talk to each other (about such matters)… You are basically nowhere. We are like twilight,” she remarked, calling parliamentarians the “connecting link” with neither authority nor adequate resources.

Breaking down the expenses, Ranaut explained:“If I have to go to my constituency with some representation, some PAs from here, some three-four cars, the expenses are in lakhs… What you're left with is actually ₹50,000 - ₹60,000 is your salary as an MP. So you need a job,” she said, further asserting, “If you are an MP you can't have it as a profession.”

Citing examples, she added, “Even people who have come before me like Javed Akhtar ji, they kept doing their work.”