Kangana Ranaut Biography: Age, Family, Movies, Politics and Latest News
Kangana Ranaut (born 23 March 1987) is an Indian actress, filmmaker and politician who works mainly in Hindi films. Known for Fashion, Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns, she has won four National Film Awards and the Padma Shri. Since June 2024 she has served as the BJP Member of Parliament for Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. Her latest film, Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata (2026), cast her as a nurse during the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Kangana Ranaut Latest News (October 2026)
- 12 June 2026: Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, directed by Manoj Tapadia, released in cinemas. Based on true events, it follows hospital staff at Mumbai’s Cama Hospital who protected patients during the 26/11 attacks, with Ranaut as a nurse. Reviews praised its intent, but it opened to about ₹1 crore net and struggled at the box office.
- August 2026: Ranaut and yoga guru Baba Ramdev publicly ended their feud on Raksha Bandhan after a disagreement over her remarks about Gen Z.
- 2026: She continues to represent Mandi in the Lok Sabha and remains one of Bollywood’s most outspoken voices on social and political issues.
Kangana Ranaut Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kangana Amardeep Ranaut |
| Nickname | Queen of Bollywood |
| Profession | Actress, director, producer, politician |
| Known for | Gangster, Fashion, Queen, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Manikarnika |
| Career | |
| Debut film | Gangster (2006) |
| Directorial work | Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019, co-director); Emergency (2025) |
| Production company | Manikarnika Films |
| Major awards | 4 National Film Awards; Padma Shri (2020) |
| Latest film | Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata (12 June 2026) |
| Politics | |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Position | Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Mandi, since June 2024 |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 23 March 1987 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 39 years |
| Birthplace | Bhambla, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Nationality | Indian |
| School | DAV School, Chandigarh |
| Acting training | Asmita Theatre Group, Delhi |
| Relationships and Family | |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Father | Amardeep Ranaut, businessman |
| Mother | Asha Ranaut, former school teacher
|
| Siblings | Elder sister Rangoli Chandel; younger brother Akshat Ranaut |
Kangana Ranaut Early Life, Family and Education
Kangana Ranaut was born on 23 March 1987 in Bhambla, a small town in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. Her father, Amardeep, is a businessman, and her mother, Asha, was a school teacher. She has an elder sister, Rangoli Chandel, who managed her career for many years, and a younger brother, Akshat.
She studied at DAV School in Chandigarh, where her parents hoped she would become a doctor. After deciding medicine was not for her, she moved to Delhi at 16, against her family’s wishes. There she worked as a model and joined Arvind Gaur’s Asmita Theatre Group, performing in plays before moving to Mumbai to try her luck in films.
Kangana Ranaut Career
Debut and early films (2006–2010)
Ranaut was cast in Anurag Basu’s romantic thriller Gangster (2006), playing a woman torn between a gangster and a gentle singer. It was a commercial success and won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She followed it with Woh Lamhe (2006) and the ensemble drama Life in a… Metro (2007). Her role as a self-destructive supermodel in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion (2008) won her the National Film Award and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in Raaz: The Mystery Continues (2009) and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010).
Queen and the peak years (2011–2015)
Her career changed with Aanand L. Rai’s comedy Tanu Weds Manu (2011), opposite R. Madhavan. She then played the shape-shifting Kaya in the superhero film Krrish 3 (2013), one of the biggest hits of the year. In Vikas Bahl’s Queen (2014), co-starring Rajkummar Rao, she played Rani, a sheltered Delhi girl who goes on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé calls off their wedding. The film was a sleeper hit and won her the National Film Award and Filmfare Award for Best Actress. In Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015) she played a double role, as Tanu and the Haryanvi athlete Datto, winning a second consecutive National Award for Best Actress. It became her biggest hit.
Manikarnika, Panga and a run of flops (2016–2023)
After a series of less successful films, she starred as Rani Lakshmibai in the historical epic Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), which she also co-directed. She also played a former kabaddi champion making a comeback in Panga (2020). These two performances earned her a fourth National Award for Best Actress. She played former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in the bilingual biopic Thalaivi (2021). Several later films, including Dhaakad (2022), Tejas (2023) and Chandramukhi 2 (2023), failed at the box office. In 2022 she hosted the reality show Lock Upp.
Emergency and recent work (2025–present)
Ranaut directed, co-produced and starred as Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Emergency, a drama about the 1975–77 Emergency. After long delays over certification, it released in January 2025. In June 2026 she returned with Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, a thriller about the ordinary hospital workers who stood their ground during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. She has said actor John Abraham, who owned the title, let the makers use it free of charge.
Kangana Ranaut Movies List
Here are the key films of Kangana Ranaut’s career, from her debut to her latest release:
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Gangster | Debut; Filmfare Best Female Debut |
| 2008 | Fashion | National Award, Best Supporting Actress |
| 2011 | Tanu Weds Manu | Commercial hit |
| 2013 | Krrish 3 | Played Kaya |
| 2014 | Queen | National Award, Best Actress |
| 2015 | Tanu Weds Manu Returns | National Award, Best Actress |
| 2019 | Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi | Also co-director |
| 2020 | Panga | National Award, Best Actress (with Manikarnika) |
| 2021 | Thalaivi | Played J. Jayalalithaa |
| 2023 | Tejas | Air Force drama |
| 2025 | Emergency | Also director; played Indira Gandhi |
| 2026 | Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata | Latest release |
Kangana Ranaut Political Career
Long known for her outspoken views on nationalism and the film industry, Ranaut formally entered politics in 2024. The BJP fielded her from Mandi, her home constituency, in the Lok Sabha elections, and she won the seat against Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh. She was sworn in as a Member of Parliament in June 2024. Since then she has balanced politics with filmmaking, and her comments on public issues continue to make headlines and often spark debate.
Kangana Ranaut Personal Life
Ranaut is unmarried and divides her time between Mumbai, Manali and her constituency in Mandi. She has a home in Manali and in 2025 opened a café there called The Mountain Story. She has spoken openly about the struggles of her early years in Mumbai as an outsider with no film connections, and about speaking her mind even when it costs her work.
She has been involved in several high-profile public disputes with film industry figures, often over nepotism and credit for her work. She has also faced legal cases over remarks made on social media. Her supporters see her as fearless, while her critics view her as polarising.
Kangana Ranaut Awards and Honours
- Padma Shri (2020): India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, for her contribution to the arts.
- National Film Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Fashion; Best Actress for Queen, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, and Manikarnika and Panga.
- Filmfare Awards: Best Female Debut for Gangster, Best Supporting Actress for Fashion and Best Actress for Queen, among others.
Why Kangana Ranaut Stands Out
Ranaut is one of very few Hindi film actresses to carry films on her own name, without a big male star, and Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns are often cited as turning points for women-led films in Bollywood. She built her career without a film family behind her, and has worked as an actor, writer, director and producer. Her four National Awards make her one of the most decorated actresses of her generation.
Lesser-Known Facts About Kangana Ranaut
- Her family wanted her to become a doctor, and she studied science at school.
- She wrote the dialogue for the film Simran (2017).
- She learned horse riding and sword fighting for Manikarnika.
- Her production company, Manikarnika Films, made its digital debut with Tiku Weds Sheru (2023).
- She was only 19 when Gangster released.
Related Biographies
- Sara Ali Khan Biography
- Disha Patani Biography
- Taapsee Pannu Biography
- Rajkummar Rao Biography – co-star in Queen
- Kriti Sanon Biography
- Shah Rukh Khan Biography
- More stars: Bollywood biographies
Kangana Ranaut FAQs
How old is Kangana Ranaut?
Kangana Ranaut was born on 23 March 1987, so she is 39 years old in 2026.
Is Kangana Ranaut an MP?
Yes. She has been the BJP Member of Parliament for Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, since June 2024.
Is Kangana Ranaut married?
No. Kangana Ranaut is not married.
How many National Awards has Kangana Ranaut won?
She has won four National Film Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Fashion, and Best Actress for Queen, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, and Manikarnika and Panga together.
What is Kangana Ranaut’s latest movie?
Her latest film is Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, released on 12 June 2026, in which she plays a nurse during the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
What was Kangana Ranaut’s first movie?
Her first film was Gangster (2006), directed by Anurag Basu, which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Where is Kangana Ranaut from?
She is from Bhambla in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
Has Kangana Ranaut directed a film?
Yes. She co-directed Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019) and directed Emergency (2025), in which she also played Indira Gandhi.