Cinema VinesActor and BJP Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut has publicly defended actress Trisha Krishnan after the South Indian star was embroiled in a controversy last month over her attendance at the Independence Day 2026 celebrations in Chennai. Trisha had been present at the event held at Fort St. George on August 15, where she sat beside the parents of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay—SA Chandrasekhar and Shobha Chandrasekhar—leading to a backlash from certain political quarters.
In a video clip shared by the news agency PTI, Ranaut addressed reporters following her chairmanship of a District Development Coordination and Monitoring meeting in Kullu. She criticised the way society often attacks women’s character to undermine them, stating that “women’s character is always used against them to destroy them” and that this phenomenon is not confined to India but is a global issue. She added that the “character of working women, successful women, actors, politicians, women at the position of power and authority is targeted to bring her down.”
Without naming Trisha directly, Ranaut remarked on the situation in Tamil Nadu, noting that a “very respected artist and actress” had been involved in a controversy where “the relationship was between both parties.” She emphasised that “when it comes to abuses and character lynching, it is always the woman who is targeted.”
The controversy began when DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin spoke at a rally concerning the long‑standing Cauvery water‑sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. During the event, he made an obscene remark while the crowd chanted Trisha’s name. The next day, he was arrested from his Chennai residence and taken to Thanjavur, where the comment had been made. After pressure from the DMK and a move to the Madras High Court, the former state minister was released.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has completed 100 days in office amid persistent rumours of a relationship with Trisha. These rumours were amplified when Vijay’s estranged wife, Sangeetha Sornalingam, filed for divorce citing alleged infidelity. Trisha’s emotional appearance at Vijay’s oath‑taking ceremony in May 2026 further fueled speculation. Recent reports indicated that Sangeetha had withdrawn the divorce petition she filed before the Chengalpattu Family Court, which subsequently closed the case after she stated she did not wish to pursue the matter.
