Kangana Ranaut joins chorus demanding influencer Sharmishta Panoli's release: 'No need to bully or harass'

Amid the growing controversy surrounding Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli’s arrest, actor and politician Kangana Ranaut has stepped forward demanding her immediate release. Kangana emphasized that while Sharmishta’s words in a recent video were “unpleasant,” they do not justify the harsh treatment and legal actions she has faced. This comes as Sharmishta remains in custody following backlash over her social media remarks about Bollywood celebrities and Operation Sindoor.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Kangana wrote, “I agree that Sharmistha used some unpleasant words for her expression but such words most youngsters use these days, she apologised for her statements and that should be enough, no need to bully or harass her further, she should be released immediately.”

Check out the post here:



Sharmishta Panoli, a student at Pune’s Law University, made a controversial social media video criticizing several Hindi film actors for not speaking out on Operation Sindoor. The video received strong backlash, leading her to delete it and issue an apology.

However, the Kolkata Police had already filed a complaint against her before she deleted the video. Legal notices were also sent to her and her family. On Friday night, Kolkata Police arrested her in Gurugram.

On the professional front, Kangana’s most recent appearance was in 'Emergency', a project close to her heart that also marked her first time as a director. She took on the challenging role of Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. The film featured a notable cast including Anupam Kher, Satish Kaushik, Mahima Chaudhry, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, among others, who played important roles.