Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut joins India's right-wing ruling party

Indian actor filmmaker Kangana Ranaut, a long-term vocal advocate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been announced as the Lok Sabha (or the House of the People) candidate for her local Himachal Pradesh constituency on behalf of the right-wing Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), reported India Today.

Having made a name for herself portraying strong-willed women in unconventional films, Ranaut, 37, had been hinting for some time at launching a career in electoral politics, according to reports across Indian media. After being named as a running candidate, Raunat, the actor-turned-politician to social media to thank the BJP leadership and offer unwavering support, saying she was "honoured and elated to officially join the party".

Vowing to give her “unconditional support”, the actor took to her Instagram handle and posted, "My beloved Bharat and Bhartiya Janta's own party, Bharatiya Janta party (BJP) has always had my unconditional support, today the national leadership of BJP has announced me as their Lok Sabha candidate from my birthplace Himachal Pradesh, Mandi (constituency). I abide by the high command's decision on contesting the Lok Sabha polls. I feel honoured and elated to officially join the party. I look forward to being a worthy karyakarta and a reliable public servant. Thanks."

Ranaut has gone on record in the past to voice her staunch support for Prime Minister Modi. Previously, she has stated, "As a young woman, I do believe that we need to have the right role models. I mean the graph and the ambition of an ordinary man and whenever we have a PM who is a chaiwala, then I always say that it is not his victory but it is the victory of our democracy. I feel he is the right role model."

Making her film debut in 2006 in the thriller Gangster, Ranaut went on to win an award for best female debut and carved a niche for herself taking upon unusual or emotionally intense roles, such as playing a mutant superhero in Krrish 3 (2013) and an abandoned bride in the comedy-drama Queen (2014), for which she won the best actress award.

However, after 2015, the actor’s projects turned into a string of commercial failures. Launching her own production company in 2020, Ranaut became well-known for her controversial right-wing stance, reflected in the political trajectory her career has taken to date.