Kangana Ranaut's Unexpected Praise for Jaya Bachchan: A Look Back at Bollywood's 'Most Dignified Woman'

Kangana Ranaut and veteran actress Jaya Bachchan have always been two of the most fearless voices in Bollywood and beyond. Known for their sharp words and strong presence, both have ruled the silver screen and later stepped into the world of politics. Often on opposite ends of heated debates, the two have not always seen eye to eye.But despite the clashes, there was a moment when the ‘Queen’ actress openly praised the ‘Mili’ actress, showing admiration for her senior in the industryIn a past interview with News18, Kangana Ranaut shared her respect for Jaya Bachchan, calling her one of the most respected women in the industry. She said, “Jaya Bachchan ji is a very reputed actor of our film industry. Honestly, she's known for her short temper, but at the same time, I'd like to give her the acknowledgement and due credit that in those times… you can imagine that in the 1970s, at a time when women had to roast their skin in the (harsh) lighting, she did films like Guddi back then. She sent a message of women empowerment through that. And even after that… she's one of the most dignified women in the film industry. The way she carries herself in Rajya Sabha, I feel very good that we have this kind of representation from the film industry.”Back in 2020, after the tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Jaya Bachchan had spoken in Parliament about people from within the film industry criticising it. Kangana had reacted strongly at the time. Later, she reflected on it and took a softer stance. Ranaut added, “That's fine. If we say something to each other… I believe she's elder to us. If she said something to us, we should take it in stride.”Jaya Bachchan’s career started with Satyajit Ray's ‘Mahanagar’ in 1963. She then stepped into Hindi cinema with Hrishikesh Mukherjee's ‘Guddi’ in 1971. Soon after marrying Amitabh Bachchan, she was seen with him in iconic films such as ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Mili’, ‘Abhimaan’, and ‘Silsila’. Years later, she returned to the big screen in Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ in the early 2000s. Most recently, she appeared in Johar’s 2023 blockbuster ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’.Kangana’s film ‘Emergency’ hit the cinemas in January this year. The film also starred Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhry and Milind Soman. The movie added another bold chapter to her filmography, as she continues to balance her political and cinematic pursuits. Her next move is her big Hollywood debut. She will star in the horror drama 'Blessed Be the Evil', alongside Tyler Posey and Scarlet Rose Stallone.