Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has recently made shocking revelations about the drug use in Bollywood and the toxic working culture.
In an interview given to Arnab Goswami on Republic, Ranaut revealed that drugs flow like water in Bollywood parties, and industry insiders start giving newcomers with drugs from the beginning.
Meanwhile, actor-turned-politician Ravi Kishan spoke against the drug menace in parliament on Monday and said Bollywood has a drug addiction problem. He also praised the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) which has launched a massive crackdown on a drug racket linked to the film industry.
On this, Samajwadi Party leader and veteran actor Jaya Bachchan hit back at Ravi Kishan saying some people are biting the hand that feeds them.
“Jis thali mein khate hai Usme chhed karte hai. Galat baat hai,” Bachchan said referring to a popular Hindi proverb that means to bite the hand that feeds you.
“I was really embarrassed and ashamed that yesterday (September 14) one of our members in the Lok Sabha, who is from the industry, spoke. I am not taking names. It is a shame,” she said without taking any name.
In an indirect reference to actor Kangana Ranaut’s recent remarks, she said: “People who have made a name in this industry have called it a gutter. I completely disagree and I really disassociate.”
Ravi Kishan responded to her by saying that he did not mean to target anyone. “I never said that the whole film industry is taking drugs but some people are still taking drugs. I respect the film industry. I understand Jaya Ji’s ideology. Maine kisi ki thali me ched nhi kiya. I said what I wanted to say yesterday. I have also struggled so much for entering the film industry, I didn’t target anyone,” said Kishan.
“There is a conspiracy to finish our film industry by hollowing it out. As a responsible member of the film industry, not just my right, my duty to raise it in Parliament, Jaya-ji should respect that. I am just a son of a priest,’crawled’ my way up, worked in 600 films,” said Ravi Kishan.
Ravi Kishan on Monday said, “I want to bring an important issue to the notice of all the MPs. The problem of drug trafficking/addiction is on a rise in our country and a conspiracy is being hatched to destroy the country’s youth. Our neighbouring countries are contributing as the smuggling of drugs from Pakistan and China is done every year via Punjab and Nepal”.
“Drug addiction is in the film industry too. Several people have been apprehended and the NCB is doing very good work. I urge the central government to take strict action, apprehend the culprits soon, give them befitting punishment and bring an end to conspiracy of neighbouring countries,” the BJP MP stated.