Kangana's enemy is her boldness. Tejas, Kangana's recent film, which she fervently urged people to watch in theaters, struggled at the box office. Multiple trade analysts and industry observers have reported its dismal performance during the opening weekend. By Monday, the film had slipped below the Rs 1 crore mark, and four days after its release, it had generated less than Rs 5 crore in revenue.
Kangana's Bane
While Kangana is known for her razor-sharp wit, her attempts to respond to actor Prakash Raj and critically acclaimed filmmaker Deepa Mehta have fallen flat this time. Prakash Raj took a swipe at Kangana's call for audiences to support her film in theaters, and Deepa Mehta openly expressed her distress regarding Kangana's recent meeting with the Israeli ambassador, where the actress aligned with the BJP's stance in solidarity with Israel.
In an industry characterized by an unspoken code of camaraderie, Kangana stands out for her unwavering stances and comments on some of the industry's most prominent figures. At times, her political observations can come across as elitist and arrogant, lacking the essential connection with the public. While her intentions and political views may be well-intentioned, her delivery and demeanor often project an "I know it all" attitude.
With her involvement in the country's political discourse, Kangana seems to have distanced herself from her celluloid community. In the film industry, actors frequently promote each other's work and offer well-wishes on social media, but Kangana has notably remained apart from such practices. Uma Vangal, a Film Professor who divides her time between the United States and India, states, "Kangana has gained notoriety for her views and off-screen life, but unfortunately, this doesn't necessarily translate to a film's success. A film's image can contribute to an actor's real-life image, but the reverse is not always true."
Many of the individuals Kangana has criticized have continued to progress and prosper in their careers, while Kangana, despite a few hits, has been relatively overlooked for her recent performances. Her strong association with politics may have deterred certain audience segments from her films. Uma concurs, "This could be accurate. When you are an assertive political figure, your primary career may suffer. 'Thalaivi,' a film about Jayalalithaa, succeeded for Kangana due to Jayalalithaa's fan base. Since then, Kangana has delivered mostly flops."
When Kangana ignited the debate on nepotism, it resonated with many people, leading some of the staunchest defenders of nepotism to reconsider their positions. However, what followed was a series of attacks on award-winners, colleagues, and even Mahatma Gandhi.
If we examine Kangana's career, her notable successes occurred before her strongly-worded statements. Regrettably, her fearless approach has, in some cases, negatively impacted her films. Sreedhar Pillai, a film critic, comments, "Kangana is a talented actress, but her statements are often misinterpreted. Audiences go to the movies for pure entertainment and may not always grasp the subtleties in her messages or comments."