Kangana Ranaut, Indian actress
Kangana Ranaut (pronounced [kəŋɡənaː raːɳoːʈʰ]; born 23 March 1987) is an Indian actress and filmmaker who works in Hindi films. Known for her versatility and portrayal of strong women in female-centric films, she has been described in the media as one of India's highest-paid actresses. The recipient of several awards, including four National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards, she has featured six times in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list. In 2020, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award.

Born in Bhambla, a small town in Himachal Pradesh, Ranaut initially aspired to become a doctor at the insistence of her parents. Determined to build her own career, she relocated to Delhi at the age of sixteen and took up modelling for a brief period of time. After being trained under theatre director Arvind Gaur, Ranaut made her feature film debut in the 2006 thriller Gangster, for which she was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She received praise for portraying emotionally intense characters in the dramas Woh Lamhe (2006), Life in a... Metro (2007) and Fashion (2008). For the last of these, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Ranaut appeared in the commercially successful films Raaz: The Mystery Continues (2009) and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010) but was criticised for being typecast in neurotic roles. A comic role in Tanu Weds Manu (2011) was well-received, though this was followed by a series of brief, glamorous roles in films that failed to propel her career forward. This changed in 2013 when she played a mutant in the science fiction film Krrish 3, one of the highest-grossing Indian films. Ranaut went on to win two consecutive National Film Awards for Best Actress for playing an abandoned bride in the comedy-drama Queen (2014) and a dual role in the comedy sequel Tanu Weds Manu: Returns (2015), which was the biggest-earning female-led Hindi film at the time. After a number of commercial failures, she portrayed the titular warrior in her co-directorial venture, the biopic Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), followed by a role as a kabbadi player in the sports film Panga (2020). She was awarded a fourth National Film Award for these two performances, and followed by playing the role of Jayalalithaa in the biopic Thalaivii (2021).

In 2020, Ranaut launched her own production company named Manikarnika Films under which she works as director and producer. She is credited in the media as one of the best-dressed celebrities in the country, and is known to be outspoken. The opinions she has voiced, along with reports of her personal and professional relationships have frequently sparked controversy.