New Delhi: Actoress Kangana Ranaut has expressed her frustration over the postponement of her upcoming film Emergency, in which she portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Originally scheduled for release on September 6, the film has been delayed due to pending approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ranaut shared her disappointment, calling the situation “hugely demotivating” and questioning the double standards in India’s censorship laws. “The law of the land is that one can show unimaginable amount of violence and nudity on OTT platforms without any consequence or censorship, one can even distort real-life events to suit their politically motivated sinister motives,” she wrote. Ranaut further criticized the apparent leniency towards leftist expressions, while claiming that nationalist films, like hers, face undue scrutiny and restrictions.
Ranaut’s comments were in response to a post by BJP leader Amit Malviya, who criticized the web series IC 814 – The Kandahar Hijack for allegedly distorting facts by changing the names of the hijackers to non-Muslim names. Malviya claimed that the series could mislead future generations into believing that Hindus were responsible for the 1999 hijacking incident.
Ranaut also voiced her concerns during a podcast, where she likened the censorship issues her film is facing to an “emergency” imposed on her work. “It’s a very hopeless state. I’m quite disappointed in our country and whatever the circumstances are… How much will we keep getting scared? I’ve made this film with a lot of self-respect which is why the CBFC can’t point out any contention. They’ve stalled my certificate, but I’m determined to release an uncut version of the film. I’ll fight in court and release an uncut version,” she stated.
The actor-turned-politician, who also directed, wrote, and co-produced Emergency, revealed that her film has not been cleared by the CBFC, despite rumors to the contrary. She mentioned being under pressure to omit scenes depicting Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her security guards, a critical event in the film.
The controversy surrounding Emergency intensified when the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a regional political party in Punjab, issued a legal notice to the CBFC, urging it to prevent the film’s release. The party claimed that the film’s trailer misrepresented historical facts and could incite communal tensions by spreading misinformation about the Sikh community.
Ranaut remains resolute in her decision to release the film in its original form, despite the ongoing challenges. As the debate over censorship and creative freedom continues, the fate of Emergency remains uncertain, with its release date still up in the air.
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