Actor-turned politician Kangana Ranaut has opened up about a difficult phase in her life when she was targeted, and many tried to malign her image. She also recalled how her ex filed a “case” against her, and she was labelled a “witch” and accused of practising black magic by many.In a conversation with ANI, Ranaut alleged that she was subjected to severe character attacks at the time. “My ex who filed a case on me… and on top of that, kuch khade ho gaye ki ye to chudail hai khoon peeti hai… kaale kamre mein kaale parde lagake kaala jaadu karti hai. There was evident and very apparent witch-hunting happening at that time and I was hardly 26 or 27 years old. So when this is how they’re going to treat me, why should I make them look good…I have no reason to make them look good.”She added that, “even today” at this age, when she looks back, she thinks that “I was just doing the best I could do. Ranaut said during that phase, she derived inner strength from her journey and achievements. “My journey, my own success… in spite and despite of all of them. There was no hero — just like in ‘Queen’,” she said.The actor credited her breakthrough film ‘Queen’ as a turning point, highlighting how its unconventional narrative and her creative involvement reinforced her confidence. “I was very actively involved in the creative process. So it was a film where I knew how it happened. And I knew it was not a fluke. It was not a stroke of luck. So I was very confident of myself at that point,” she said.Apart from ‘Queen’, her role in ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ was also well-received.  She spoke about choosing unconventional roles, particularly in comedy, which she believes many actresses avoid. Ranaut maintained that her journey was defined by a direct connection with the audience rather than industry validation. “So, I was like, this is what made me a superstar…This is between the people and me, and me and the audience, and…they have nothing to do with it,” she said.