Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has launched a fresh attack on veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, reviving a war of words over the silence of Bollywood celebrities during student-led protests.

Ranaut responded after Shah questioned why prominent film personalities had largely stayed away from publicly commenting on demonstrations that took place across the country last month. Turning his own metaphor around, the BJP MP said she would prefer being a “dog” over being a “lomdi” — fox — like Shah.

The latest exchange has also been linked to the political controversy surrounding protests in Jharkhand, where job aspirants allegedly faced police action during demonstrations over recruitment examination irregularities.

How the Kangana-Shah spat began

Shah had earlier criticised the reluctance of major celebrities to speak about the student protests. While discussing the issue, he compared silent public figures to a dog holding a bone in its mouth, suggesting that such a dog would not be able to bark.

Ranaut later used the same comparison to make her own point.

On Instagram Stories, she shared a post by actor Piyush Mishra questioning Shah's position on the Jharkhand protests. Ranaut then added her own comments, arguing that being called a dog should not necessarily be considered an insult.

She said loyalty was something to be proud of and claimed that she would rather be associated with that quality than be called a “fox”. In the post, she also accused Shah of enjoying the benefits of India while allegedly supporting interests across the border.

The remarks have added another chapter to the long-running public friction between the two actors.

Why Jharkhand protests are part of the dispute

The immediate political backdrop is the agitation by job seekers in Jharkhand. Protesters had gathered near the state Assembly over alleged discrepancies in recruitment examinations.

The demonstration escalated after police intervened. Officials said water cannons and tear gas were used and that a lathi-charge also took place. Several protesters were injured, while four police personnel were also reported hurt.

The incident has since become a political flashpoint, with BJP leaders attacking the Jharkhand government over its handling of the protesters.

Ranaut herself raised the matter in Parliament, alleging that students had been subjected to severe treatment and demanding an explanation over the use of force against them.

Her criticism of Shah is therefore tied directly to his comments about celebrities speaking up on student issues.

Ranaut turns Shah's analogy around

Shah's original comparison was intended to question why influential actors may choose not to speak publicly on contentious issues. Ranaut has instead recast the metaphor as a statement about loyalty.

By saying she would rather be a dog than a fox, she attempted to turn Shah's language back on him while simultaneously presenting herself as someone willing to stand up for the country.

The exchange has since become the latest flashpoint in the public disagreement between the two actors.

Kangana's recent comments on Gen Z

Ranaut's latest remarks also come days after she appeared to change her tone on Gen Z and youth-led protests.

She had previously faced criticism after describing Gen Z as a “generation gutter”. More recently, however, she praised young Indians, describing Gen Z as an important strength and asset for the country.

Speaking to PTI, Ranaut said young people were increasingly representing India's culture and identity. She also expressed positive views about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the growing interest among young people in India's cultural heritage.

Her latest clash with Shah comes against this broader backdrop of debate over student activism, Gen Z, political protests and the responsibility of celebrities to speak out on public issues.