Hansal wants to work with Kangana again

Hansal Mehta finally opened up about controversies surrounding his stormy collaboration with Kangana Ranaut in Simran, his falling out with Apurva Asrani and more. Edited excerpts from the conversation:

Despite much flying all around, you’ve been quiet. Do you regret not speaking about the controversies around Simran?

I said whatever I had to then, and there’s nothing more I will say in the public domain. I was definitely saddened, but I will continue to remain silent. Simran… have always seen that with a lot of positivity. There is a lot of her contribution in the final film and I would rather celebrate that than respond to insinuations and hearsay. After having spent 20 years making many different kinds of films, I feel I don’t need to clarify this matter any further, as it gives unnecessary attention to people who thrive on spreading malice.

What was it like working with Kangana? Would you work with her again?

Kangana is a very fine artiste and one of the best actors we have today. If I have a subject that both of us agree upon, I would love to work with her. We know each other and our respective working styles well enough and there is no reason to not continue making films together whenever the opportunity arises.

Do you approve of her speaking on her personal life and the men she loved at events meant to promote Simran?

I’ve said before that she answered the questions that were asked of her. She answered those questions unflinchingly and I salute her fearlessness. She is one of a kind and we should celebrate that. I wish the wise persons who raised these questions about her personal life would also be asked the same thing — did they have nothing else to ask her?