Cockroaches emerge from gutters: Kangana Ranaut doubles down on Gen-Z remark

BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut has stoutly defended her controversial "Generation Gutter" remarks regarding young protesters, clarifying that her comments targeted a specific segment of youth rather than the entire young Gen Z population of India. She further said that individuals who identify as "cockroaches" should not object to being associated with gutters.Speaking to news agency ANI, Ranaut stood by the context of her earlier statements while narrowing their scope. Her initial comments had drawn sharp criticism from opposition politicians, film industry figures, and social media users, including actor Sonu Sood, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan, and Congress politician Bhai Jagtap.Rejecting accusations that she insulted all young Indians, Ranaut said, "Those who call themselves cockroaches, and we say that cockroaches emerge from gutters, what is wrong with that? If people label themselves as cockroaches, and we say the gutter is their home, why should they be offended?"She added, "I certainly don’t consider myself a cockroach. If someone were to say I live in a gutter, I would deny it. But if someone claims to be a cockroach, then naturally, they would live in a gutter. Where else?"She also denied making a sweeping generalisation about the youth. "If some young people use drugs, or if we discuss the current trend of addiction involving drugs, betting, gambling, or the dark web, addressing a specific segment of the youth doesn’t mean I was making a blanket statement about everyone. Did I say that all youth belong to the gutter? I specifically referred to some people or some women," she explained.Background of the controversyThe remarks follow protests in Delhi where thousands of students gathered at Jantar Mantar under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party to protest the NEET-UG paper leak and demand examination reforms. The demonstrations escalated following a police crackdown during the July 20 Chalo Sansad march.Then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25 after the government accepted several demands, prompting the Cockroach Janta Party to withdraw its agitation the same day.Days later, Ranaut shared Instagram stories targeting protest footage and the language used by some participants. Describing the footage as revolting, she wrote, "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 coined the phrase "Generation Gutter" and criticised some participants, particularly young Hindu women, accusing them of imitating independent career women without accountability. She alleged they flaunted lifestyle choices while living off parental support. Addressing Cockroach Janta Party supporters, she wrote, "You call yourself cockroaches and look and behave like them as well. There is no paradox or juxtaposition there, just simply subjecting the world to your filth, garbage and ugliness."Backlash and professional frontThe comments triggered widespread backlash. Opposition leaders questioned why an elected representative showed no empathy towards students allegedly mistreated during the protests, while Sonu Sood labelled the remarks "very shameful."Ranaut maintains her remarks targeted specific protesters rather than the youth at large. On the professional front, she was last seen in Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, directed by Manoj Tapadia, which depicts the true story of healthcare workers at Cama Hospital during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.- EndsPublished On: Aug 13, 2026 13:08 IST