Kangana Ranaut’s Film Depiction of Indira Gandhi in Serious Trouble
The obstacles standing in the way of ‘Emergency’ continue to mount.
The release of the much-anticipated film Emergency, in which Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut essays the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is facing serious roadblocks. The nonfiction movie, which also marks Ms. Ranaut’s directorial debut, was scheduled for release on September 6th, 2024. But it has failed to hit cinema screens pending approval from the India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Now, to add to Kangana’s woes, a district court in Chandigarh has issued a notice to the film personality, alleging that she has “tried to tarnish the image of Sikhs” in the flick.
The legal application, which also accuses the Manikarnika: Queen of Jhansi star of including in her production several false allegations against the Sikh community, was filed by former president of the District Bar Association – Mr. Ravinder Singh Bansi. This latest blow to the multi-award winning actor-politician comes after reports that she had to sell her bungalow in Mumbai’s upscale Pali Hills, which she had staked for the production, distribution and release of the controversial film. The property in question was reportedly purchased at around Rs. 20 Crore and sold for Rs. 32 Crore, while Emergency was made on a budget of Rs. 25 Crore.
It therefore seems that Ms. Ranaut has Rs 7 Crore from her personal coffers to tide herself over while she waits for the green light from the Censors. But the frustrating delays come as part of a long gestation period for the film which was shot between July 2022 and January 2023. The subject of Emergency is undoubtedly sensitive and potentially incendiary as it protrays one of Independent India’s most turbulent eras.
The catastrophic 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 saw the jailing of Mrs. Gandhi’s political opponents, pressmen and dissenters, along with the launching of a widespread vasectomy campaign. Ms. Ranaut who shot to fame with the 2007 romantic thriller Gangster, has been known to take on daring and unconventional roles. It looks like she could use some spiritual intervention from Mrs. Gandhi to get the projectors of her latest film rolling.
