Kangana Ranaut, an actress and BJP Member of Parliament, said nursing is the most sexualised profession during promotional events for her upcoming film [1].
Ranaut's comments highlight a push for cultural shifts in Indian healthcare and the professional status of nursing staff. By linking attire to societal perception, she is calling for a systemic change in how nurses are viewed and treated within the medical community.
Speaking June 7 [1], Ranaut said that nurses are underpaid and overworked. She said the profession lacks the respect it deserves due to persistent societal sexualisation [1].
Ranaut specifically targeted the attire worn by healthcare workers as a contributing factor to this issue. She said, "We need to Indianise the uniform because the current one is a relic of the British era" [3]. According to Ranaut, shifting away from colonial-era clothing toward Indian-styled attire would help restore dignity to the role [3].
"Nursing is the most sexualised profession," Ranaut said [1]. She said that nurses deserve respect and their uniforms should be Indianised to reflect national identity [2].
These statements were made ahead of the release of her film, "Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata," which is scheduled to premiere June 12, 2026 [2]. The actress-MP used the promotional platform to bring attention to the labor conditions and social stigmas facing nursing professionals in India [1].
Ranaut's call for "Indianised" uniforms suggests that the current standard of dress, inherited from British colonial rule, contributes to the sexualisation of the workforce [3]. She said this change in dress is a necessary step toward achieving greater professional respect for nurses [2].
“"Nursing is the most sexualised profession."”
This statement reflects a broader trend of cultural nationalism within Indian politics, where colonial-era remnants are viewed as obstacles to national dignity. By framing a labor and respect issue through the lens of attire and 'Indianisation,' Ranaut is connecting professional grievances—such as low pay and overwork—to a larger ideological movement to remove Western influence from Indian public institutions.
