31st July 2023, Mumbai: Ironically, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who is known for many of her uncompromising views on various issues, recently praised the Hollywood film ‘Oppenheimer’ and the endorsement came as a shock to many, given her prior plea to fans to boycott American movies in an effort to fortify the Indian film industry.
Appreciating Hollywood
After the release of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, on Monday, Kangana Ranaut shared her thoughts on Instagram reels. The film, which is about the life of nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the ‘Father of Atomic Bomb’, received rave reviews from actress Kangana expressing her admiration for the mention of the Bhagavad Gita in the film called it Nolan’s best work by far.
In the film’s review, she wrote, “Most important film of our time… I am so excited I just didn’t want it to end… it has everything I deeply love, I am passionate about physics and politics … For me, this was like a cinematic orgasm… beyond wonderful!”
The Bhagavad Gita Controversy
But not everyone shared Kangana’s enthusiasm for the film, with sections of the Indian audience expressing their displeasure with a scene in the film that paired an intimacy scene with the lead actor holding the Bhagavad Gita. This led to a diverse range of reactions and a renewed discussion on cultural sensitivity in international cinema.
Reddit Users Reaction
Meanwhile, Reddit users had mixed reactions to Kangana’s endorsement of ‘Oppenheimer’. Some users pointed out her previous call to boycott American movies and viewed this endorsement as a contradiction. Others attributed her change in stance to professional rivalry, with one user saying, “She is doing PR for the movie against RRKPK (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani). The more people choose Oppenheimer over RRKPK, the better she will feel.”
Reminiscing the Boycott Call
In 2021, Kangana was reported by PTI at a press conference saying, “We need to discourage American and English movies as they are taking over our screens. We need to behave like one nation. We need to stop dividing ourselves like North India or South India. We need to enjoy our own films first, be it Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu or Punjabi.”
With this, Kangana expressed the need to prioritize Indian cinema, reflecting a firm belief in supporting and promoting local industry. Her recent appreciation of ‘Oppenheimer’, however, casts a shadow on her earlier stance, leading to a whirl of discussions and debates.
About Oppenheimer
“Oppenheimer” is an biographical film directed by Christopher Nolan. The film focuses on the life and work of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a prominent nuclear physicist who played a significant role in the Manhattan Project during World War II and is often referred to as the “father of the atomic bomb”. In the film, Oppenheimer’s intense journey to develop this formidable weapon is depicted alongside his personal struggles and ethical dilemmas concerning the implications of his work. The movie delves into Oppenheimer’s complex personality and his historical contributions while offering Christopher Nolan’s unique storytelling and visual style, creating an engaging narrative that combines both historical events and human drama.