Shabana Azmi's 'bullying' real reason behind not signing Deepika Bachao petition, says Kangana Ranaut

There were unconfirmed reports yesterday about Kangana Ranaut not wanting to sign a petition in support of Deepika Padukone started by veteran actress Shabana Azmi. Now, the Queen (2014) actress has confirmed the news and revealed the reason for not signing it.

The petition is in connection to the death threats that Deepika Padukone has been receiving for acting in upcoming film, Padmavati directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

During a conversation with Times Now news channel, Ranaut made it clear that she completely supports Padukone in the entire controversy of miscreants threatening to kill her. But Azmi’s ‘left wing v/s right wing’ politics stopped Ranaut from signing it, she said.

Explaining her stand, she said, “I was filming Manikarnika in Jodhpur. Got a call from my dear friend Anushka Sharma to sign the petition written by Ms Shabana Azmi, I explained to Anushka that Deepika Padukone has all my support but I am a bit wary of Shabana Azmi's investment in left wing v/s right wing politics.”

But that’s not all. Ranaut also accused Azmi of character assassination during her personal battle with Hrithik Roshan. “I am on the fence about many things and being a part of a feminist movement called ‘Deepika Bachao’ lead by someone who character assassinated me when I was bullied, seems to be one of them,” she added.

During her famous interview in Aap Ki Adalat show on India TV channel, Ranaut had also hinted at a writer's wife threatening her over the Hrithik matter. She had not named Azmi then. “She threatened me saying I am messing with such influential and rich people. She said, ‘They (Roshans) know people from the foreign ministry and they can put you in jail. The man with whom you had an affair thinking he is Hrithik, when the guy will come out, you won’t be able to show your face to anyone and you won’t have any other option other than dying (sic).’”

During the entire Kangana-Hrithik war, Azmi had openly praised the latter on Twitter after he explained his stand over the matter. “Spoken like the true gentleman that you are ! Bless you dearest Hrithik and rest assured truth will prevail. Lots of love,” Azmi had said.

Azmi's petition is to be sent to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take action against those who threatened to behead Padukone as they believe her film Padmavati allegedly distorts the history of Rajputs.