celeb bio

Before starting her career in Bollywood, Kangana Ranaut was a theatre artist and trained under eminent theatre director Arvind Gaur. She got lucky when Anurag Basu spotted her in a cafe in Mumbai and offered her the lead role in Gangster. The film which released in 2006 was a box office success and Ranaut was highly acclaimed for her performance.

She got rave reviews for her act in Woh Lamhe (2006) and Life In A... Metro (2007). Ranaut's portrayal of a supermodel in Fashion (2008) is one of the best performances of her career. It also won her Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award and National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Then she appeared in films like Raaz - The Mystery Continues, Vaada Raha, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai and No Problem.

In 2011, she was highly praised for her role in  Tanu Weds Manu opposite R Madhavan, which was another landmark of her career. She was also seen in Double Dhamaal, Rascals, Miley Naa Miley Hum and Tezz.

FACT FILE

Born on: March 20, 1987

Sun sign: Pisces

Place of birth: Himachal Pradesh
 
First film:  Gangster (2006)

Family: Ranaut was born to Asha, a school teacher and Amardeep, a businessman. She has an elder sister, Rangoli and a younger brother, Akshit.
 
Personal life: Kangna Ranaut has been romantically linked to Adhyayan Suman, Aditya Pancholi and UK-based doctor Nicholas Lafferty.

TOP 5 MOVIES

Gangster (2006): Played Simran opposite Shiney Ahuja and Emraan Hashmi

Woh Lamhe (2006): Played Sana Azim opposite Shiney Ahuja.

Fashion (2008): Played Shonali, a supermodel.

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010): Played Rihana opposite Ajay Devgn

Tanu Weds Manu (2011): Played Tanuja Trivedi opposire R Madhavan



LIST OF AWARDS

2007: Asian Festival of First Films, Best Actress, Gangster

2007: Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, Gangster

2007: Filmfare Fairever Fresh Face of the Year Award, Gangster

2007: IIFA Best Female Debut Award, Gangster

2007: Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female, Gangster

2007: Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut, Gangster

2007: Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female, Gangster

2007: Bollywood Movie Award - Best Female Debut, Gangster

2008: Stardust Breakthrough Performance Award (Female), Life in a... Metro

2009: National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, Fashion
   
2009: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, Fashion
   
2009: IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award, Fashion
   
2009: Stardust Best Supporting Actress Award, Fashion
   
2009: Apsara Awards Best Supporting Actress, Fashion



QUOTE ROOM

On dating Nicholas Lafferty: "My love life is rocking. I don't talk about it because people over-analyse things... and love life is anyway a complicated thing."

On fashion sense: "I think everybody is so badly dressed that I end up getting all the attention. In fact I would want to do more outrageous dressing, and be more experimental."

On Ajay Devgn: ""I've done two films with Ajay. In fact, when I did Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, I was a newcomer and he was a star. But I've observed that he doesn't talk much. There is camaraderie on the sets but yet he's an introvert. Otherwise Ajay is very disciplined and you can learn so much from him."

On Anil Kapoor: "Anil Kapoor is like family. The love and affection he showers on me is something I don't know how to react to. He is what you call chivalrous. You feel good when he is around on the sets."

On directing films: "I will take up direction because I want to make stars and I have lots of stories to tell. Right now, I am very young and want to act. I am waiting for the right time."

On Nicole Kidman: "Nicole is a lovely, warm person. It was an honour to share this platform with her."



On international recognition: "Films in India are making a huge impact internationally, and that's definitely being recognised. Everyone knows Bollywood today, all over the world. Given that our film industry is also linked to fashion in our country, that extension internationally is also natural."

On actresses' style: "It's just that everybody around me is so boring. There are contemporary actresses who haven't changed their style ever since I was a kid. It's so sad to be stuck in time. Even at this age, Madonna is so outrageous. Whereas when I see the way people dress here, it makes me yawn."

On fav hairstyle: "Thanks to my face, I can carry off anything. But the hairstyle should do justice to the dress. I respect the designer who's put so much effort into creating the garment, so if it demands curly hair or straightened hair, I won't argue."

On her inspiration: "When I think of fashion, Rekha is one person who clearly appears in my mind. She was so outrageous for that time."