Love and respect I get second only to Amitabh Bachchan, says Kangana Ranaut; netizens react

Bollywood star-turned-politician Kangana Ranautcompared herself to Indian icon Amitabh Bachchan during her recent speech while campaigning for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

The actress, who is contesting on a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from the Mandi constituency of Himachal Pradesh, has likened herself to Big B which has led to considerable chatter on the internet.

What did Kangana Ranaut say?

While addressing a rally recently, Kangana stated that after Amitabh Bachchan, she is the only star to have received love and respect from fans. She said, "Sara desh hairaan hai, ki wo Kangana, chahe Rajasthan chali jau, chahe mai West Bengal chali jau, chahe mai Delhi chali jau, chahe mai Manipur chali jau, aisa lagta hai ki mano itna pyaar aur itna sammaan… Mein daave se keh sakti hu ke Amitabh Bachchan ji ke baad aaj kisiko industry me milta hai to wo mujhe milta hai (The whole country is surprised… whether I go to Rajasthan, West Bengal, Delhi or Manipur, it feels like there is so much love and respect. I can confidently say that after Amitabh Bachchan, if anyone gets such love and respect in the industry, it is me)."

Fans react on social media

The video of her speech has since gone viral and has led to multiple comments on social media with many making sarcastic jibes about her comparison to one of Bollywood’s most revered icons, despite her recent string of box office failures.

“Kangana’s last hit film came in 2015 and after that she gave back to back 15 flops. Here she is comparing herself to Amitabh Bachchan,” a verified parody account quipped while sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter).

“Going by her speeches, Kangana Ranaut may be the first actress in the country to get a national award for her role as an election candidate,” another Twitterati remarked.

One user called it a “peak level of self-obsession,” and another described it as the “best joke of the year.”

“This is the next level of self-obsession. After delivering flop after flop, Kangana Ranaut compared herself to Amitabh Bachchan. Nobody has ever insulted Amit Ji like this before,” noted a verified X account supporting the Congress.

The Mandi Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled to go to polls on June 1, during the seventh and final phase of the ongoing general elections in India.