Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur) - Hindustan Times (Jaipur) - City
Bollywood certainly cannot afford Mahesh Babu, says Kangana
Actor Kangana Ranaut has extended her support to actor Mahesh Babu, and joined the Bollywood vs South debate. Ranaut agreed with Babu, who is a star in the Telugu film industry and said Bollywood can certainly not afford stars like him. The Queen (2013) actor was speaking at the second trailer launch of her upcoming film.
Last week, Mahesh Babu was asked about working in Hindi films, to which he said that Bollywood “can’t afford” him. When asked to comment on this statement, Ranaut told the media, “He’s right, Bollywood cannot afford Mahesh Babu because I know for a fact that many filmmakers offer him many movies, and he and his generation single-handedly have made the Telugu film industry the number one film* industry in India. So now, Bollywood can definitely not afford them.”
She further added, “Why create controversies on small things? If he said that in some context, I think it only makes sense. We can also say Hollywood cannot afford us, or say whatever way we want to convey our point. But here’s one thing, I think he has shown respect for his work and [his] industry, which is why he has reached the level he is at today and we cannot deny that. The Telugu film industry did not get anything on a platter. They’ve left behind everyone, even the Tamil industry, in recent years. We have lots to learn from them. I believe all languages in our country are equally respectable. It is a small thing that we respect each other’s languages.”