People tried to shame me for not knowing English

Kangana Ranaut, who hails from a small town in Himachal Pradesh, says she faced a tough time initially in Bollywood as people shamed her for her dressing style and speaking skills. The actress says she is not ashamed of where she comes from and even when people were talking bad about her, she retained her individuality.

“I do not find anything embarrassing about my born existence. People tried to shame me, coming from small town, not being able to speak English, not being able to dress up properly. But that didn’t shake anything in me. I always operated from the place of my individuality. Even today when I work, the first reaction I get from people is ‘oh she is a delicate beautiful girl’ but as I go about my work, it disappears.”

The 29-year-old feels it is important for women to believe in themselves to be treated equally. “Women have to first believe in themselves as equals, only then they will get that sort of treatment. Today I can proudly say, that within five days of shooting any film, I am treated like anyone else on sets.”

Kangana says it is heartening that today women are voicing their opinion fearlessly and people are also keen to listen to them.

She feels as individuals, actors do have a stand on certain issues and do follow what is happening around the society. “As individuals we do belong to the country but in a very individual way, we all care about what is happening the country, in politics, what leaders are doing. In a democracy what a leader does is the reflection of what we have chosen for us.”