Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has launched a sharp attack on veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah over his comments on celebrities remaining silent during student protests. Kangana called Shah a “lomdi” (fox) while questioning his alleged silence on the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand. Her remarks came after actor-singer Piyush Mishra also criticised Shah over his earlier comments about members of the film industry not speaking out on protests.

The controversy began after Shah spoke about the absence of A-list Bollywood celebrities from demonstrations involving students. While discussing why prominent actors had not publicly participated in the protests, Shah said celebrities would speak when their conscience prompted them to do so. He used an analogy involving a dog with a bone in its mouth, suggesting that those who have something to lose may be unwilling to speak out. His remarks subsequently drew criticism from some members of the film industry.

Piyush Mishra later questioned Shah over the comments, particularly in the context of student protests in Jharkhand. Mishra recalled Shah’s criticism of celebrities who had remained silent during earlier demonstrations and asked why Shah himself had not spoken about the protests involving students in Jharkhand. The exchange added a new dimension to the debate over whether actors and other public figures should take positions on social and political issues.

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Kangana then joined the dispute and took aim at Shah in a strongly worded social media post. She said she would rather be compared with a dog than be a “lomdi” like Shah, arguing that being called a dog could be considered a compliment because of the animal’s loyalty. Kangana also accused Shah of benefiting from India while allegedly taking positions in favour of a neighbouring country. Her remarks escalated what had initially been a debate over celebrity silence into a more personal exchange.

The BJP MP also framed her response around the idea of loyalty to the country. In her post, Kangana said she took pride in supporting and defending the country whose “roti” she eats. She contrasted that with her criticism of Shah, alleging that although he “eats” from India, he fights for a neighbouring country. The comments reflect the broader political disagreements that have frequently surrounded Kangana's public statements, particularly on nationalism, protests and the role of celebrities in political debates.

The dispute comes as student protests in Jharkhand continue to draw political attention. The demonstrations have involved candidates raising allegations concerning irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. The Jharkhand BJP has called for a statewide bandh over alleged police action against protesting students, adding further political pressure around the issue.

The latest exchange has once again brought the question of celebrity responsibility into focus, with Shah’s original comments prompting criticism from fellow actors and Kangana now directly targeting him. While Shah’s remarks concerned why prominent Bollywood figures had not spoken publicly about student protests, the subsequent responses have broadened the discussion to questions of political allegiance and activism. Kangana's intervention has intensified the war of words, making the disagreement one of the latest public clashes involving prominent Bollywood figures.

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