Divya Khossla Kumar Once Backed Kangana Ranaut In Nepotism Debate: 'When A Woman Rises...'

Divya Khossla Kumar sparked a major online controversy after hinting that the Alia Bhatt-starrer Jigra has been struggling to draw audiences to its screenings. The seasoned actor and director, with over a decade of experience in the industry, recently voiced her support for Kangana Ranaut after the censor board delayed the release of Emergency. This isn’t the first time Divya has stood by Kangana; she previously backed the actress during the heated debates on nepotism that took the industry by storm.

An old video resurfacing on social media shows Divya Khossla Kumar firmly standing in support of Kangana Ranaut during a press interaction. In the clip, a journalist asks her about the ongoing debates around nepotism and Kangana’s position in Bollywood. Without hesitation, Divya replies, “I think I support her.” When further questioned about the mockery Kangana has faced despite her successful career, Divya strongly condemned it, saying, “I feel it was very, very wrong. When a woman rises on her own merit, mocking her, especially by multiple men, highlights gender inequality. I don’t support it.”

Kangana Ranaut sparked the nepotism debate in Bollywood during her appearance on Koffee with Karan in 2017. In a candid and now-famous conversation with the show’s host, Karan Johar, Kangana openly called him “the flag-bearer of nepotism,” accusing him of promoting star kids over outsiders in the industry. This bold statement brought the issue of nepotism to the forefront, fueling widespread discussion about the challenges faced by self-made actors and the alleged preferential treatment given to those with industry connections.

Kangana’s remarks ignited a long-standing conversation about power dynamics in Bollywood, where established families and connections often dominate, making it difficult for outsiders to succeed. The debate gained traction on social media, with several actors and filmmakers taking sides—some defending the existence of nepotism as a norm in every industry, while others highlighted the importance of creating a level playing field for everyone. Over time, the nepotism debate became a recurring topic, with Kangana consistently voicing her views and calling out influential figures in the film industry for their role in perpetuating it.

Meanwhile, Divya Khossla Kumar was last seen in Savi. made under the direction of Abhinay Deo. The cast of the film included Divya Khosla Kumar in the titular role, along with Anil Kapoor and Harshvardhan Rane. It was produced by Mukesh Bhatt, Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under the banners of Vishesh Films and T-Series Films. Composers like Vishal Mishra, Javed-Mohsin, Piyush Shanker and Arkadeep Karmakar. The cinematographer was Chinmay Salaskar and Shaan Mohammad served as the editor.