Annu Kapoor apologizes to Kangana Ranaut over his remark during Hamare Baarah press conference: “Not knowing a person is not a crime”

June 24, 2024 - 12:10 PM IST

Veteran actor Annu Kapoor and actor and MP Kangana Ranaut are currently engaged in a war of words on social media. The controversy began during a press conference for Kapoor’s film Hamare Baarah, when he expressed unfamiliarity with Kangana Ranaut's identity. Kapoor’s remark, “Kaun hai Kangana Ranaut? (Who is Kangana Ranaut?),” sparked a heated exchange.

Annu Kapoor apologizes to Kangana Ranaut over his remark during Hamare Baarah press conference: “Not knowing a person is not a crime”

Kangana Ranaut’s Response To Annu Kapoor

Kangana Ranaut responded swiftly through her Instagram Stories, questioning, “Do you agree with Annu Kapoor ji that we tend to hate a successful woman, hate her more if she is beautiful, and hate her even more passionately if she is powerful? Is it true?”

Annu Kapoor’s Clarification On Not Knowing Kangana Ranaut

Annu Kapoor released a detailed statement to address the misunderstandings. In an extensive post penned in Hindi on X (formerly Twitter), he explained that he does not engage with movies, TV, OTT platforms, news channels, or newspapers. Kapoor acknowledged that some might view his detachment as foolish, but he maintained that being uninformed is not a crime.

"I am responsible for what I speak and I am not responsible for what others understand. Jai Hind Vande Mataram,” he captioned the post.

Annu Kapoor Speaks About Respect for Women and Media Detachment

He expressed his respect for women and clarified that any offense caused was unintentional. He wrote, “Dear Sister Kangana, I am extracting some meaning from the answers to the questions posed by the media, so I thought I should clarify some facts. Every woman is respectable and worthy to me, so I can never disrespect any woman. Not knowing the system or laws of any country can lead to mistakes and punishment, but not knowing a particular person, place, or thing is not an error or a crime.”

He further added, “Therefore, respected sister, I do not know you, hence you will not include this in the category of disrespecting women’s dignity. When the media asks questions, understand that they want the spice of current affairs, which they got from my frankness. I have no connection with politics and religion and since I have nothing to do with religion, I have no connection with unrighteousness either.”

Annu Kapoor Expresses Apology and Humility

Annu Kapoor described himself as a humble person with no special qualities. “I neither thought nor said any wrong or derogatory words. I am responsible for what I speak and I am not responsible for what others understand,” he penned. In the end, he apologized, saying, “But still, if you have become angry with anything I have said, please forgive me. May you achieve success in your goal. I wish the same good wish for all of us to be more aware of our duties than our rights.”

I am responsible for what I Speak and I am Not responsible for what others understand. Jai Hind Vande Matram ???????? pic.twitter.com/p0rX9ETbm3
— ANNU KAPOOR (@annukapoor_) June 22, 2024

The Slap Incident

The controversy erupted after Kangana Ranaut was reportedly slapped by a CISF woman constable at Chandigarh airport while preparing to board a flight to Delhi for a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). During the press conference for Hamare Baarah, when asked about the slapgate incident, Kapoor said, “Yeh Kangana ji kaun hain? Please batao na kaun hain? Zaahir hai aap pooch rahe hain toh koi bahut badi heroine hongi? Sundar hain kya?” (Who is this Kangana? Is she a big heroine? Is she beautiful?)