On Kangana Ranaut’s birthday, 5 milestone performances of her Bollywood career

Kangana Ranaut, who is all geared up for her directorial Emergency, has proved her mettle as an artist in many films. Be it her unconventional characters or out-of-the-box scripts, the actor has not shied away from experimental cinema.

Her charisma and screen presence not only got her critical acclaim but commercial success as well. At a time when women-oriented movies were rare in Bollywood, Kangana’s bold choices paved the way for strong female characters. A glimpse at some of her milestone performances that set a new benchmark for actors, screenwriters and filmmakers. ( Kangana Ranaut reacts as Sadhguru undergoes brain surgery: ‘I am numb since I got to know about it’)

Gangster

Kangana was barely 18 when she played a complex character in Anurag Basu’s musical romantic thriller. Her on-screen chemistry with Emraan Hashmi and Shiney Ahuja added to the engagement quotient. However, apart from the music, electrifying romance and picturesque locations, it was the young actor who was the show stealer with her intense portrayal.

She gave it her best shot while playing an alcoholic grieving the loss of her foster son and yearning for the love of a gangster who is on the radar of intelligence agencies. Her expressions and dialogue delivery are spot-on in the movie as she depicts the vulnerabilities, insecurities, fears and passion on-screen. One of the best debuts by a female actor that redefined artistry.

Woh Lamhe

Mohit Suri’s romantic drama starring Kangana and Shiney Ahuja was based on the life of late actor Parveen Babi. The film was based on Parveen’s alleged relationship with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Kangana’s portrayal of Sana Azim brought realism to the movie.

The audience resonated with her range of emotions as she showcased the heartbreak, disappointment, isolation and setbacks faced in the glamour industry. As the narrative of the film presented the dark side of showbiz, the actor did justice to the script by getting into the skin of her character. In her very second movie, with limited experience, Kangana set the bar for many aspiring actors with Woh Lamhe.