Kangana Ranaut backs Piyush Mishra, takes swipe at Naseeruddin Shah over Jharkhand protests
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has waded into the ongoing war of words over Bollywood’s response to student protests in Jharkhand, backing actor Piyush Mishra and taking a sharp swipe at veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah.
Ranaut’s comments came after Mishra questioned Shah’s earlier remarks about the silence of Bollywood celebrities during student protests. Mishra had recently visited protesting students at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi.
Kangana backs Mishra, attacks Shah
Sharing a report about Mishra’s remarks on Instagram, Ranaut accused Shah of being selective in his response to protests and questioned his position on the ongoing agitation in Jharkhand.
Ranaut contrasted Shah’s alleged silence over the Jharkhand protests with his earlier criticism of Bollywood celebrities who did not speak out during another student agitation.
She said she would rather be called a “dog” than a “lomdi” (fox), arguing that loyalty to one’s country was something to be proud of.
Ranaut also made a pointed reference to Shah’s alleged political positioning, saying that while he “eats the bread” of India, he fights for a neighbouring country. Her remarks have added a fresh political and ideological dimension to the Bollywood dispute.
The ‘dog with a bone’ remark
The controversy traces back to comments made by Shah about the silence of prominent Bollywood personalities during student protests.
Shah had said celebrities would speak when their conscience prompted them, using the analogy of “a dog with a bone in its mouth” being unable to bark.
Mishra subsequently challenged that argument while speaking to protesting students in Ranchi, asking who the “dogs with bones in their mouths” were who were now remaining silent.
His remarks prompted Ranaut to enter the debate and publicly side with Mishra.
Ranchi, Jharkhand: Renowned actor and theatre personality Piyush Mishra visited Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to support the protesting JPSC students.
He says, “There is something weighing heavily on my mind. During the CJP protests, Naseer Sahab remarked that the film industry… pic.twitter.com/SnZ6fizMWH
— IANS (@ians_india) August 9, 2026
Jharkhand protests enter third week
The Bollywood controversy comes against the backdrop of an ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations.
Protesting students are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and an independent probe, either by the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges. Several aspirants have also undertaken hunger strikes.
Multiple rounds of talks between the protesters and the Jharkhand government have failed to resolve the deadlock so far.
The issue has also triggered political confrontation, with opposition leaders criticising the police response to protesters and the government maintaining that the concerns of the students will be examined.
For Kangana, however, the latest controversy is also about who speaks up, when they speak up and whose causes they choose to champion.
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