Kangana Ranaut clarifies Gen Z comments following backlash over Jantar Mantar protest remarks
text_fields
Actress and politician Kangana Ranaut has issued a clarification regarding her recent controversial comments about Gen Z during a student protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Posting a video on her Instagram Stories on Thursday, 13 August, Ranaut claimed that her earlier statements had been misinterpreted by political rivals, specifically pointing to comments made by a Congress leader.
Addressing the controversy, Ranaut stated that her remarks were directed solely at a specific group gathered at the demonstration, rather than the entire generation. She noted that out of the roughly 10,000 people present at Jantar Mantar, only around 2,000 belonged to Gen Z, while the rest comprised various age groups. She questioned how the event could be labelled a nationwide Gen Z movement when the country's youth population totals over 300 million.
Ranaut challenged critics to produce any quote where she generalized the entire generation and rejected claims that she was anti-youth, adding that she considers herself part of the younger demographic. She also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during her video statement.
The controversy stems from comments Ranaut made in late July 2026, when she referred to certain demonstrators at the Jantar Mantar protest as Generation Gutter, criticizing their language, behavior, and lack of accountability.
(Inputs from IANS)