BAZAAR

Sabyasachi Mukherjee: Where does your confidencecome from?Kangana Ranaut: I’ve never really been able to answerthis question, but it could be [rooted in] my curiosityfor the world around me and my genuine liking forpeople and cultures. If I like something,it becomes a part of me for the rest of my life. Whenpeople see something new, they react in two ways—either they shut themselves down or they just embraceit. I think I’m in the latter category.SM: Both of us have a similar trajectory in our lives.We’re both successful in a very mainstream way but weare still outsiders.KR: I think we did it our way. That’s the mostimportant thing. Many artists begin with their strongindividuality but they cannot stick to it. People really beat that out ofyou. When I started, the first thing they pointed out about me is theway I look or how my hair was. Everybody just wanted to fit me intoa mould.Similarly, if I look at your work, your clothes are so individualistic. Theyhave a character of their own and you retain that. You did not compromiseon that. I identify with your clothes. You represent India’s culture andheritage. Each of your garments is about finding pride in our own existencerather than trying to be somebody else. I love that about you. I think you’rea great artist. It’s a privilege to model your clothes.I feel that we took our own sweet time to be successful, and whilewe could have been somebody else and maybe tasted success earlier inour careers, we did not compromise on our vision and remained trueto who we are. We find pride in it.SM: It often happens to us in the fashion industry and I’m sure ithappens in the film industry as well—we’re made to apologise forhaving our own individual identity. But I don’t think that you’velearned to do that. What gives you that strength?KR: There are people who are going to make you feel sorry for whoyou are. Maybe it just makes their day. But then there are those whogive you inspiration. There’s always a ray of hope. Even if they cannotoffer you strength, they will give you a smile and I never fail to find[those people]. That grace is around, if you look for it.SM: You’ve apologised about the fact that you don’t speak English well.We are in France right now and people here are not apologetic aboutnot being able to speak English because French is their native language.KR: Neither are the Chinese! I think China is rising to power becausethey don’t have an inferiority complex. I wish I didn’t have to learn tospeak English and I wish people around me would learn to speak Hindi.It’s like when you made that statement about the sari. ➤“When people seesomething new, theyreact in two ways—either they shutthemselves down orthey just embrace it.I think I’m in thelatter category.”—Kangana RanautDress, Sabyasachi. Earrings, Sabyasachi Jewelry. Watch, Omega. Sunglasses, stylist's own.