Actor Kangana Ranaut, who is known to make headlines for her controversial remarks, on Wednesday made another embarrassing gaffe calling Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker an "idiot of a man" based on a parody video clip.
The clip, which is now viral on social media, was made in response to a Twitter user "Vashudev" who had recorded himself appealing to Indians to boycott Qatar Airways following the massive diplomatic blowback India received for two BJP leaders' derogatory remarks toward Prophet Muhammad.
In the clip, Vashudev says Qatar had offered refuge to painter MF Hussain who he says had "painted nude images of Hindu goddesses". The same Qatar is preaching to us on (former BJP spokesperson) Nupur Sharma's remarks, he says, urging viewers to boycott products from Qatar and Qatar Airways in response to Indians supposedly being sacked in Qatar over the controversy.
Another Twitter user then made a spoofed video in response by dubbing the Qatar Airways chief's interview to broadcaster Al Jazeera. Laced with sarcastic jibes, the dubbed part makes it sound like Akbar Al Baker is personally appealing to Vashudev to call off his boycott.
"Vashudev is our biggest shareholder with a total investment of Rs 624.50. We don't know how to operate anymore. We have grounded all flights. Our operations are not running anymore. We are requesting Vashudev to take this call for boycott back," the doctored video makes the Qatar airlines chief appear to say.
Vashudev while sharing his video wrote 'bycott' instead of boycott for which he was made fun of in the clip.
"This is a special kind of boycott because it is b-y-c-o-t-t. Vashudev Habibi, we are willing to give you one whole plane to make your TikTok videos or maybe we can give you two litres of petrol free," the voiceover in the dubbed video said.
35-year-old Padma Shri awardee Ms Ranaut seems to have believed the parody video to be true and angrily responded to people who are "cheering this bully".
"All so-called Indians who are cheering this bully for making fun of a poor man remember this is exactly why you all are a big bojh (burden) on this overpopulated country," she said in one of her Instagram stories.
"This idiot of a man has no shame bullying a poor man, mocking his insignificance and place in the world...
"Vasudev may be poor and insignificant for a rich man like you but he has the right to express his grief, pain and disappointment in whatever context it may be... remember there is a world beyond this world where we all are equal...," she followed up in the next story.
She appears to have deleted these Instagram stories following widespread ridicule.
Controversial remarks by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in a TV debate and BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal on Twitter caused an unprecedented diplomatic outrage even as the government sought to defuse the anger in various countries, asserting that it respects all religions and the BJP expelling the responsible party members from their posts.
16 countries, including Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Malaysia, the UAE, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Maldives, Libya, Turkiye and Indonesia have lodged official protests against India over the controversial remarks.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that the offensive tweets and comments "did not, in any way, reflect the views of the government. These are the views of fringe elements".
The BJP on Sunday issued a statement, saying it is "strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion" and "does not promote such people or philosophy".
On the work front, Kangana Ranaut was recently seen in the film 'Dhaakad' and has 'Tejas' and 'Emergency' under production.
