Mandi (Munish Sood)
Bollywood actress and BJP Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi seat, Kangana Ranaut, has taken to social media to address the growing controversy surrounding her film ‘Emergency’.
In a video posted on her X account, Kangana Ranaut expressed her pain and frustration, stating, “I leave it to the people and the viewers to decide for themselves whether this film unites or divides.” Her statement came in response to the ongoing protests against her movie ‘Emergency’ in Punjab since its release.
The political drama, which chronicles the 21 months of the Emergency period (1975-1977) under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has sparked protests from various groups in Punjab. Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), have accused the film ‘Emergency’ of misrepresenting the Sikh community and distorting historical facts. Protests have been held across the state, leading to many theaters canceling screenings of the film.
Kangana Ranaut, visibly upset by the situation, took to social media to address the issue, stating that “small groups of people” in Punjab were preventing her film from reaching the “large” audiences. “It is these small individuals who have set this fire and now we all are burning because of it,” she said.
Kangana Ranaut also shared her disappointment with the fact that her films had once been the highest-performing in Punjab, but now she couldn’t even get her film released there.
Adding to the tension, attacks against people associated with the film have been reported in Canada and the UK, further amplifying the controversy, she said. Kangana’s frustration was evident as she remarked that her thoughts on the nation were clearly expressed through the film.
The Central Board of Film Certification had raised concerns over the film’s portrayal of Sikh characters, demanding several cuts before its release. Kangana’s previous remarks during the farmers’ protests, where she was accused of derogatory comments against farmers, have also fuelled the opposition to her film.
In her video, Kangana emphasised that the controversy was an attack not only on her but on art and artistes in general. “This is complete harassment of art,” she said, expressing her belief that the opposition was part of a larger effort to tarnish her image and harm the film.
