Pawan Kalyan Chooses Kangana Over Bollywood Stars
‘iTelugu superstar and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, has publicly expressed admiration for Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut. Known for rarely participating in film promotions, Pawan surprised fans during a recent media interaction where he took part in a rapid-fire round and revealed his ideal co-star preferences.
While initially hesitant to pick between leading Bollywood actresses like Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone, Pawan opted for both. When more names like Kriti Sanon and Kiara Advani were added, he continued with a diplomatic smile, selecting all. However, when the final comparison came down to Kriti Sanon versus Kangana Ranaut, Pawan decisively chose Kangana.
He doubled down on his choice when asked to pick between Kangana and Priyanka Chopra, once again favoring Kangana. In a tie between Kangana and Kareena Kapoor, he noted that his decision would depend on the film but ultimately praised Kangana for her intense portrayal of Indira Gandhi in the political drama Emergency. “I think I should go with the stronger person—Kangana Ranaut,” he said, referring to her commanding on-screen presence.
The video of the interaction quickly went viral across social media platforms. Kangana, who is no stranger to public admiration or debates, shared the clip on her Instagram Stories with a folded hands emoji—signaling humble appreciation.
Despite Kangana topping Pawan’s list among current stars, one actress did surpass her—legendary screen icon Sridevi. When asked to choose between Kangana and Sridevi, Pawan smiled and said, “Sridevi, of course.”
Kangana Ranaut, who began her film journey with Gangster in 2006, has only appeared in one Telugu movie to date—Ek Niranjan opposite Prabhas in 2009. Earlier this year, she both directed and starred in Emergency, portraying former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The project also marked her role as a producer. In 2024, Kangana stepped into politics, winning a seat in the Lok Sabha from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan, last seen in Bro (2023), recently appeared in Hari Hara Veera Mallu, released across South Indian languages. The film’s Hindi version is still awaiting release.
