Kangana Ranaut, one of Bollywood’s most talked-about and critically acclaimed actresses, has once again stirred discussion in the film industry by revealing that she turned down roles in several major Bollywood productions, including Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Zero, and Singh is Bliing. Known for her forthright nature and independent choices, Ranaut’s revelation highlights an ongoing conversation in Indian cinema about the scope of female roles in films often led by male superstars.
As she continues to be a prominent voice in the film fraternity, Ranaut’s candid reflections also shine a light on the challenges many women face in securing meaningful parts in India’s mainstream film industry.
A Journey from Small-Town Dreams to National Acclaim
Born in Bhambla, Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut entered the Mumbai film scene without any family connections in the industry. She made her acting debut in the 2006 thriller Gangster, directed by Anurag Basu and produced by Mahesh Bhatt’s Vishesh Films. Her portrayal of a troubled woman caught in a love triangle earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut and laid the groundwork for a promising career.
Despite initial critical praise, Ranaut’s early career was marked by roles that often confined her to playing emotionally fragile characters. While films like Fashion (2008) and Tanu Weds Manu (2011) added to her growing popularity, she struggled to find complex, central roles in an industry where the spotlight typically falls on male actors.
The Turning Point: Queen (2014)
Ranaut’s professional trajectory changed dramatically with the release of Queen in 2014. Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film told the story of Rani Mehra, a young woman who embarks on a solo honeymoon to Europe after her fiancé calls off their wedding. The film was a commercial success and received widespread acclaim for its feminist themes and Ranaut’s performance.
Queen earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress and redefined her image in the public eye—from a talented actress to a trailblazing female lead. More importantly, it empowered her to seek roles that resonated with her values and gave women meaningful representation on screen.
Turning Down Blockbusters
In a recent conversation, Kangana Ranaut disclosed that she turned down roles in big-budget, male-led films such as Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), Zero (2018), and Singh is Bliing (2015). Each of these films featured popular male leads—Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Akshay Kumar, respectively—and went on to become high-profile releases.
While some may view these decisions as missed opportunities, Ranaut described them as deliberate choices. She emphasized that her primary motivation was to play characters with depth, agency, and a narrative arc—qualities she believed these roles lacked.
Ranaut posed a broader question that resonates across film industries worldwide: Do female actors get a chance to truly shine in male-dominated films?
Gender Dynamics in Bollywood
Historically, Bollywood has been characterized by a star-driven system, where male actors often command the lion’s share of screen time and influence. In such a system, female leads have frequently been relegated to supporting roles, serving as romantic interests or plot devices rather than central figures.
This imbalance has been slowly shifting, with a growing number of films in recent years offering more nuanced and powerful female protagonists. However, progress remains uneven, and actresses like Kangana Ranaut have been vocal in challenging the status quo.
By rejecting roles in films that lacked strong female characters, Ranaut has positioned herself as both an artist and an advocate for gender equity in cinema.
Noteworthy Examples of Missed Roles
While Ranaut has not detailed the specific roles she declined in each of the films, all three titles are notable for their commercial success and high-profile male leads:
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015): Directed by Kabir Khan and starring Salman Khan, the film tells the story of a Hindu man who helps a mute Pakistani girl reunite with her family. Kareena Kapoor Khan played the female lead, but the film centered overwhelmingly on Khan’s character.
Zero (2018): A romantic drama featuring Shah Rukh Khan as a man with dwarfism, the film included performances by Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. Despite its ambitious premise, the movie underperformed at the box office.
Singh is Bliing (2015): An action-comedy starring Akshay Kumar, the film was aimed at mass entertainment and offered limited scope for substantial female roles.
Each of these films reflected the typical Bollywood formula—star power, grand scale, and male-centric storytelling.
Choosing the Road Less Traveled
By opting out of these commercial ventures, Ranaut took risks that many actors in her position might have avoided. However, her career has shown that success does not always require association with the industry’s most bankable stars.
After Queen, she continued to explore bold and unconventional roles. Her portrayal of Rani Lakshmibai in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019) further established her as a performer committed to portraying empowered women. She also starred in Panga (2020), a sports drama about a mother’s return to kabaddi, and Thalaiva (2021), a biopic of Tamil Nadu politician J. Jayalalithaa.
Ranaut has received four National Film Awards and was honored with the Padma Shri in 2020, recognizing her contributions to Indian cinema.
Industry Reactions and Broader Implications
Kangana Ranaut’s revelations have sparked conversations about the choices actors must make to balance artistic integrity with career advancement. Some industry insiders view her decisions as courageous and consistent with her personal and professional principles. Others question whether such a stance may limit commercial prospects in an industry still heavily reliant on box office returns.
Experts in cinema studies note that while Bollywood has evolved to include more female-led narratives, true parity remains a work in progress. Films like Raazi, Kahaani, Pink, and The Dirty Picture have shown that stories centered on women can achieve both critical acclaim and commercial success.
Ranaut’s choices may serve as a catalyst for broader change, encouraging more filmmakers to craft stories with substantial roles for women and challenge the conventional dynamics of star-led cinema.
Looking Ahead
Despite controversies and public spats that have occasionally overshadowed her film career, Kangana Ranaut remains a formidable presence in Bollywood. Her upcoming projects continue to reflect her interest in socially relevant and challenging themes. Whether it’s through acting or her foray into directing and production, she is likely to keep pushing for a cinema that values depth over spectacle.
As the industry adapts to changing audience preferences and the global spotlight on diversity and representation, voices like Ranaut’s play an essential role in shaping the narratives that reach India’s vast and varied film audience.
Kangana Ranaut’s decision to decline roles in high-profile films is more than a personal career choice—it is a commentary on the broader state of female representation in Bollywood. By consistently advocating for meaningful roles and leading films that place women at the center of the narrative, she has challenged an entrenched system and opened the door for others to follow.
In doing so, she reminds us that success in cinema isn’t solely measured by box office numbers, but also by the courage to chart one’s own path—and the stories one chooses to tell.