Kangana Ranaut controversy: Hansal Mehta backs Simran actress, says 'she is not doing it for publicity'

Renowned filmmaker Hansal Mehta has come out in support of actress Kangana Ranaut over the ongoing controversy on her personal life and said that the diva isn't doing it for sheer publicity.

Kangana has been mired in controversies ever since she gave an explosive interview over her alleged relationship with Hrithik Roshan, Aditya Pancholi and Adhyayan Suman.

Indeed, her revelations have left the tinselvile buzzing with opinions. While many are criticizing Ranaut and calling her statements a mere publicity gimmick, several celebs are even lauding Kangana for baring her soul.

Talking about the same, Hansal Mehta told PTI, "Why every time she is on a public platform one asks her about her personal life? She is not somebody who will back out from speaking about anything that is asked to her. She bares her soul... (I) don't see it as publicity."

Mehta, who is working with Kangana in his upcoming debut directorial Simran, said that the controversy surrounding the movie and its lead actress doesn't bother him.

"She is an individual who needs to be respected for being fiercely independent in the choices that she makes. I am not sad (for the film). The film is special and it will remain that way," the director added.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time that Kangana has invited a controversy for herself.

Her alleged love story with Hrithik Roshan has turned out to be one of the dirtiest squabbles, with both of them slapping legal noticed to each other last year. 

Besides, writer Apurva Asrani had slammed Kangana, in May this year, for discrediting his work when she claimed that she developed the story from a one-line script. 

In the film's first poster, Kangana was credited as the 'additional story and dialogue writer' with her name appearing before Apurva's. It was later rectified with the producer calling it a printing mistake. 

When asked if he is upset that his film has been sidelined due to controversies, Mehta says, "I don't think so. When the film will be out, it will speak for itself." 

Mehta says every actor has a different style of working and he supports it as the aim is to eventually make a better film. 

"Every actor has a process and as a director, your job is to aid that process and create an environment that blossoms to its fullest. My job is to help them in their process." 

"Simran" revolves around a Gujarati housemaid in the US, who somehow ends up as a criminal. 

"It is a character that Kangana is playing (a robber). And this character is lovable. And even if she is doing any crime, you feel concerned for her. 

"It is a human story and crime is never justified. There should be redemption towards the end. It is a journey and crime is just a part of the journey". 

Simran is set to release on September 15.