Born in a small town in Himachal Pradesh, Kangana moved to Delhi and entered the modelling world and soon joined a theatre group, which led to acting.
Filmmaker Anurag Basu saw her at a cafe and offered her "Gangster" and she lapped it up. The film did well at the box office and brought her appreciation.
It was Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Fashion' that turned tables for her as she won the National award for Best Supporting Role for the film. She continued her success story with "Once Upon A Time in Mumbai", "Raaz-2" and "Tanu Weds Manu" amid a string flops until "Shootout at Wadala", which was a hit. But, Kangana is happy with the way her career has shaped up.
"I did not have any film connections or anybody supporting me here... I am happy to have reached here where I am today. The only thing that has worked for me here is acting, I know how to act. People like me, Irrfan Khan, we come from normal background and we have survived so far despite not having any connections... it's a great thing," Kangana told PTI in an interview.
"I feel at some level we connected with the audience and they want to see us again and that is why we keep getting work," she said.
The 26-year-old will be next seen a role with grey shades in superhero film 'Krrish 3'.
"I look at doing exciting roles and not something that is done on regular basis. I got the opportunity for 'Krrish 3' and I grabbed it. I don't see it as a negative role, she is not a vamp. She is a girl who is beautiful, sexy and wicked.
She has a little love story with Hrithik," Kangana added.
This is her second film with Hrithik after 'Kites', which bombed at the box office but Kangana has no regrets.
"They (Roshans Hrithik and father Rakesh Roshan) are like my family. They are very kind, warm, generous and supportive. They are very big people in the film industry but are so grounded, their values are middle class and they are family oriented. Rakeshji shows great respect for artist. It feels nice to work with them always," she says.