Following student protests over the NEET paper leak, BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut made controversial remarks about Gen-Z protesters; responding to this, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood criticized her statement, calling it shameful.
These remarks emerged amidst online criticism directed at Kangana regarding the Gen-Z protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other locations. She had described the protesters’ behavior and language as nauseating and labeled Gen-Z as “Generation Gutter.”
During a press conference on Wednesday, July 29, journalists asked Sonu Sood for his opinion on Kangana Ranaut’s statements. He mentioned that he hadn’t heard her comments initially but emphasized that a professional’s standing is determined by public support. Sonu Sood said, “I haven’t heard her statement, but I feel that these young people are the ones who make you an actress and help you reach this position. You remain relevant as long as they are with you; if they aren’t, you know you will face difficulties. Therefore, one should take everyone along.”
“Regardless of your profession—whether you are an actor, a doctor, or anything else—your existence holds validity in the world only as long as people are connected to you.” Upon being informed by a reporter about Kangana Ranaut’s “Generation Gutter” remark, Sonu Sood commented, “What can I say? If she said that, it is very shameful; one shouldn’t speak like that. It is crucial to speak thoughtfully rather than twisting words, because the public is another form of God.”
The controversy began when Kangana posted a comment on a video of the protests, stating, “I have never seen such ugly things in one place in my life. Watching these reels of Gen-Z protests makes me want to throw up—the way they talk and the language they use.” Never in my life have I seen such bizarre and unsightly things all packed into a single frame.
She further alleged that the protesters are misusing the freedom they enjoy and are promoting drug use, all while remaining financially dependent on their parents. She went on to call them “Generation Gutter,” stating that some of them have nothing to contribute to the system, are not academically bright, and are so unsightly and morally corrupt that they cannot even manage a household.