Actress Kangana Ranaut called Jaya Bachchan a “respected actress” in her recent interview. She was speaking at a media event when she discussed Bachchan’s strength as an actor. Kangana’s statement comes after she criticised the veteran actress for objecting to being addressed as ‘Jaya Amitabh Bachchan’ during a Parliament session earlier this month.

Kangana, who is also a BJP MP (Member of Parliament) from Mandi in Haryana, appeared at an event organised by News18During the conversation, he praised Jaya Bachchan and acknowledged her choice of films. He said, “Jaya Bachchan is one of our most successful actresses. To be honest, she is known for her short temper, but at the same time, I would like to give her the recognition and due credit she deserves.”

She said it is inspiring to see the way the 76-year-old woman represents herself in Parliament. Kangana also underlined how the Samajwadi Party MP has always stood for women empowerment. “Can you imagine what the 70s were like and at that time she did films like Guddi, she gave the message of women empowerment. I think she is one of the most iconic women in the film industry. The way she conducts herself in the Rajya Sabha. I feel great that there is such a good representation from the film industry,” she said.

He added, “Jaya Bachchan is one of those rare actresses who has brought dignity to her work.”

When Kangana was reminded of the incident of Jaya targeting her and Ravi Kishan for their comments on drugs in Bollywood, she said that it just felt like an elder member scolding the family. She said, “If we say something to each other… I feel these are our elders, if they say something, it is not bad.”

Notably, when Jaya refused to be addressed by her husband’s name in Parliament, Kangana called her “arrogant” and treated her concerns as a “trivial issue”. In an interview with Fever FM during the promotion of her film Emergency, the actress said, “People just freak out when the name is mentioned like they’re having a panic attack or something. And when they say, ‘My identity has been taken away, I’ve been destroyed’, it just hurts me.”

Meanwhile, Emergency has finally received approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). However, Kangana has not yet announced the new release date of the film. The film was earlier scheduled to release on September 13.