Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Kangana Ranaut Calls Naseeruddin Shah 'Lomdi' In Piyush Mishra Row
Famous actor Naseeruddin Shah said that Bollywood celebrities are like a dog holding a bone in its mouth — they cannot bark because they are too busy holding on to something.
He meant that famous people were staying quiet about student protests.
Another actor and singer, Piyush Mishra, was upset that Naseeruddin himself did not speak about the students' protest in Jharkhand.
He asked him about this at a stadium in Ranchi, asking where 'the other dogs who can't speak' were.
Then actress and member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut took Piyush's side.
She called Naseeruddin a 'lomdi,' which means a fox, and said she would rather be called a dog because dogs are loyal and cute.
She also said that he eats this country's food but fights for a neighbouring country.
The students in Jharkhand are protesting because they think the recruitment exams were not fair; their protests began on July 25.
Kangana also carried a banner in Parliament asking Rahul Gandhi to answer questions about students being hurt during the protests.
People in India are arguing about this, with some agreeing with Piyush and Kangana and others supporting Naseeruddin.
BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut backed Piyush Mishra and called Naseeruddin Shah a 'lomdi' in a message shared on Tuesday, August 11.
Kangana wrote that Shah 'eats this country's food but fights for a neighbouring country,' adding she would rather be a dog because loyalty and cuteness are rare.
The dispute began after Shah told The Wire that Bollywood celebrities silent during the CJP student protests in New Delhi were like 'a dog with a bone in its mouth that cannot bark.'
Piyush Mishra questioned Shah's silence on the Jharkhand students' protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, asking 'where are the other dogs who can't speak?'
The Jharkhand protests began July 25 over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations, with JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto on a nine-day hunger strike.
- Who
- Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, actor-singer Piyush Mishra, actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, and students protesting in Jharkhand
- What
- A public dispute over Shah's 'dog with a bone' remark about Bollywood celebrities' silence on student protests, with Mishra questioning his silence on the Jharkhand protest and Kangana Ranaut calling him a 'lomdi' and challenging Rahul Gandhi in Parliament
- When
- Kangana's message was shared on Tuesday, August 11; the Jharkhand protests began on July 25; Shah's remarks to The Wire were made a few days earlier
- Where
- Piyush Mishra spoke at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi; protests were reported in New Delhi and Mumbai; Kangana protested in Parliament
- Why
- Shah criticised celebrities for staying silent on student protests; Mishra challenged his silence on the Jharkhand protest; Kangana backed Mishra, accusing Shah of fighting for a neighbouring country
Supporters of Naseeruddin Shah
Critics including Piyush Mishra and Kangana Ranaut
Celebrities speaking up on student protests
Supporters of Naseeruddin Shah
Shah was right to criticise Bollywood celebrities for staying silent on student protests, and he himself has raised his voice on issues such as the lathi-charge on youth in Delhi.
Critics including Piyush Mishra and Kangana Ranaut
Shah is hypocritical: he criticised the industry's silence but stayed silent on the Jharkhand students' protest, with Mishra asking where 'the other dogs who can't speak' were.
The 'dog with a bone' analogy and loyalty
Supporters of Naseeruddin Shah
The analogy fairly described celebrities who stay quiet because of what they are holding on to; Shah said celebrities will speak when their conscience tells them to.
Critics including Piyush Mishra and Kangana Ranaut
Kangana said being called a dog is a compliment because loyalty and cuteness are rare, and called Shah a 'lomdi' who eats this country's food but fights for a neighbouring country.
- Naseeruddin's 'dog' remark
- Compared celebrities silent during student protests to 'a dog with a bone in its mouth that cannot bark'; said in an interview with The Wire
- Piyush Mishra's criticism
- At Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, asked Shah 'where are the other dogs who can't speak?' over his silence on the Jharkhand protest
- Kangana's 'lomdi' jibe
- Called Shah a 'lomdi' - rendered 'fox' by most outlets and 'wolf' by one - saying she would rather be a dog because loyalty and cuteness are rare
- Kangana's accusation
- 'Khaate toh iss desh ka hain lekin ladte padosi desh ke liye hain' - he eats this country's food but fights for a neighbouring country
- Jharkhand protest
- Began July 25; students and government job aspirants allege irregularities and paper leaks in JPSC/JSSC recruitment examinations under the Hemant Soren-led state government
- Hunger strike
- JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on a nine-day hunger strike over the alleged exam irregularities
- Kangana in Parliament
- On August 11, carried a banner reading 'Rahul Gandhi jawab do' and demanded accountability over a police lathi-charge on students in Jharkhand
- Mishra on other protests
- Alleged some Delhi and Mumbai protesters over the NEET paper leak were more concerned with comforts such as pizza and burgers than students' rights
Sources
Kangana Ranaut: 'I'd Rather Be A Dog Than...'
Kangana Ranaut slams Naseeruddin Shah over his silence on Jharkhand protest: 'Rather be a dog than...'
Kangana Ranaut Lashes Out At Naseeruddin Shah, Says 'Khaate Iss Desh Ka Hain Lekin Ladte Padosi Ke Liye'
Kangana Ranaut Slams Naseeruddin Shah Over 'Dog With a Bone' Remark
Kangana Ranaut Calls Naseeruddin Shah 'Lombi' After Piyush Mishra Criticises His 'Dog' Remark: 'Khaate Iss Desh Ka, Ladte Padosi Desh Ke Liye'
Kangana Ranaut Targets Naseeruddin Shah Over Student Protests
