Zeeshan Ayyub hasn’t spoken to Kangana Ranaut after discovering political differences, says he refuses to be civil with people who justify deaths

Asked what it was like to work with someone whose politics he doesn’t agree with, he said, “Her politics weren’t as clear during Manikarnika… She called me to her house, told me about the role, said it was a five-day job. The money was good, and I wasn’t aware at the time about the controversy with Sonu Sood. We had a good time during those five days. It wasn’t awkward. But we haven’t spoken since. After I discovered these political differences, we haven’t met.”

Zeeshan was then asked if he’s friends with people whose politics he doesn’t agree with at all. He said, “My minimum requirement from people is that they don’t justify the deaths of others, that they don’t say that lynchings used to happen earlier as well… If you say things like this, then sorry, I can’t sit across from you. I’m open to having rational discussions, but the moment someone asks weren’t people dying earlier as well, weren’t massacres happening, is where I draw the line. I can sit across from humans. I don’t even want to call such people animals, because animals are actually lovely.”

Zeeshan received praise for his performance as the level-headed and idealistic journalist Imran in Scoop. He said in the interview that going forward, he only wants to do roles that he can own, and can be held accountable for.