Kangana Ranaut is gearing up for her upcoming political drama ‘Emergency’, where she not only stars but also takes the director’s chair. The actor, who portrays former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film, has been receiving praise following the release of the film’s trailer. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Kangana addressed the potential for controversy when dealing with sensitive political topics in films.
When asked if she was concerned about people taking offense, given the film’s politically charged subject matter, Kangana explained that she focuses on telling stories from her own perspective, rather than worrying about public reactions.
She drew a parallel to how she handles being imitated by mimicry artists, saying, “Main apni mimicry dekhti hoon. Kitne log mujhe mimic karte hain. Main to bohot zyada popular hoon mimicry ki duniya me. Bohot mere mimicry artist hain. Aisa nahi hai ki hum dekhte hain aur hum offend ho jaate hain. (I often see people imitating me. There are a lot of mimicry artists who try to imitate me. I don’t get offended when I see them).”
Kangana further elaborated, “Jab koi bohot dil se kisine mimic kiya ho, mujhe bareeki se pees ke pi liya ho, uspe hum prabhavit aur mohit ho jaate hain. Kyuki wo bhav aap tak pahuch jaata hai. Main kabhi second guess nahi karti ki ye mere baare me kya sochega, wo kya sochega. Maine ye film apne nazariye se banayi hai aur dekhte hain iska kya parinaam hoga (If someone mimics me with sincerity and captures my basic mannerisms, I am truly impressed and flattered. It’s about connecting with the intent behind the act. I never second-guess what people will think about me. I made this movie from my own perspective, so let’s see how it will be received).”
Speaking about her film Emergency, she announced it in 2021 but later clarified that even though it is a political drama, it is not Indira Gandhi’s biopic. The actress is not just playing the lead in the film but is also directing it. Besides Kangana, Emergency also stars Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry and Shreyas Talpade among others. While Shreyas Talpade will be seen playing the role of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Anupam Kher will be seen as Jayaprakash Narayan. Late actor Satish Kaushik will also be seen as Former Deputy Prime Minister of India, Jagjivan Ram.
During the trailer launch of the film earlier this month, Kangana also clarified if she will quit films since she has joined politics now. “Whether I would continue to act, I think this is a question where I would like people to decide that. For example, I never said I wanted to be a leader. People should say you should be a leader. Whether a party does surveys or whatever the criteria was to give you a ticket, it is people’s choice that I should fight the elections. Now, tomorrow if Emergency works and if they want to see more of me, if I feel I can have success, I will continue,” she said.
“Otherwise, if I feel I have more success in politics and I am needed there more… We go where we feel needed, respected and value. I will let life decide for me. I have no such plans that I will go here or there. I am fine anywhere where I am needed to whatever is needed,” the actress added.
Emergency has been postponed multiple times and is now scheduled to hit theatres on September 6, 2024.
