MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut has revealed that her parents struggled to accept her entry into the film industry, saying the bold scenes in her debut film Gangster left them concerned and uncomfortable.

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Family concerns over film industry Change in perspective over time

Speaking in a recent interview, Kangana Ranaut reflected on the early years of her career and explained that her conservative family initially viewed the entertainment industry with skepticism. She said her parents were more worried about public perception than her performance in the film.

The actor recalled that when Gangster was released in 2006, it featured several bold scenes involving her character. According to Kangana, her father’s reaction after watching the film was unexpected, as he remained completely silent and chose not to comment on it.

She said her mother expressed concern about her young age and questioned why she had been asked to perform such scenes. Kangana noted that she had hoped her family would focus on the film as a whole and her acting performance, but much of their attention remained on those particular moments.

Family concerns over film industry

Kangana said her parents were concerned about how relatives and society would view her work rather than the film’s storyline or artistic aspects. She explained that she came from an educated family of government officials where careers in the entertainment industry were not traditionally viewed with approval.

The actor also shared that film-related content was rarely welcomed in her household. She recalled that her parents often avoided reading entertainment news and preferred to ignore pages featuring movie stars in newspapers.

Change in perspective over time

Kangana said attitudes toward the film industry during the 1990s and early 2000s were influenced by various controversies and negative perceptions, which contributed to her parents’ reservations.

However, she noted that their outlook gradually changed as her career progressed. According to the actor, her parents began to take pride in her achievements after she received a National Film Award.

She added that receiving the civilian honour Padma Shri further transformed their perception, helping them recognize that success and national recognition could be achieved through a career in cinema.

Kangana said those milestones ultimately led her parents to fully accept and support her professional journey in the film industry.