Actor Sonu Sood has reacted to the controversy surrounding BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut's remarks about Gen Z protesters, calling the comments "shameful" and saying young people deserve respect because they play a crucial role in shaping the success of public figures. Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Wednesday, Sonu said he had not initially heard Kangana's remarks but emphasised that public support ultimately determines a person's standing, irrespective of their profession.
His response came after Kangana's social media posts about Gen Z protesters gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and other locations sparked widespread criticism online. In those posts, she described the protesters' behaviour and language as "puke-inducing" and referred to them as "Generation Gutter", drawing backlash from several public figures and social media users.
"I haven't heard her statement. But I feel that these young people are the ones who make actors, and they are the ones who help you reach this position," Sonu said. "As long as they stand by you, you will continue to thrive. If they are not with you, it becomes difficult. That's why everyone should be taken along."
Highlighting the relationship between public figures and the people who support them, he added, "Whatever your profession may be, whether you are an actor, a doctor, or anything else, your existence in this world has meaning only as long as people are connected with you."
When informed by a reporter that Kangana had allegedly called Gen Z "Generation Gutter", Sonu said, "If she has said that, then I think it is very shameful. It should not have been said."
He also urged public personalities to be mindful of their words, saying, "There is a saying, 'Tol mol ke bol' (weigh your words before speaking). It is very important to think carefully before you speak because the public is another form of God."
The controversy began after Kangana shared a series of posts reacting to videos from the protests.
"Never in my life have I seen so much ugliness in one place. These reels from Gen Z protests are puke-inducing. The way they speak and the kind of language they are using... never in my life have I seen everything in each and every frame so jarring and so crass all at once," she wrote.
She also alleged that the protesters were misusing their freedom and accused them of glorifying substance abuse while remaining financially dependent on their parents.
In another post, Kangana wrote, "I call them Generation Gutter. Some of them have nothing to offer to the system. They are not good at studies. They are so ugly and corrupt that they can't even be homemakers."
Her remarks have since triggered widespread criticism online, while Sonu Sood has maintained that such language should not have been used and that young people, whose support plays a vital role in public life, should be treated with respect.
