Bollywood actor and filmmaker Kangana Ranaut is still awaiting the release of her political thriller Emergency, which was initially set for September 6, 2023. The film’s release has been stalled due to censorship issues, with its certification being revoked after objections were raised by a Sikh group. The group claimed they were unfairly depicted in the film, which has now been withheld from its release.
In a recent interview with News18, Ranaut expressed disappointment, saying neither the film industry nor political parties, including the Congress, have come forward to support her. She contrasted this with the support other films facing similar censorship problems have received in the past.
Kangana’s Statement
“It’s happened in the past too,” said Ranaut. “There have been films like Padmaavat and Udta Punjab which were released quite smoothly. There were threats to chop off someone’s nose, someone’s neck, but the government protected them and they were released. But when it came to my film’s release, no one… especially no one from the Congress party supported me, not even the film industry did. I definitely feel like I’m on my own.”
Ranaut added that the industry is celebrating her struggles. “The film industry is celebrating that my self-financed film didn’t release. I am in the loneliest corner of the world,” she said.
Past Censorship Controversies
Kangana pointed to the challenges faced by other films in Bollywood, which eventually overcame opposition. Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab (2016), starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Diljit Dosanjh, faced backlash from fringe groups for allegedly portraying Punjab in a negative light due to its focus on drug addiction. The film, after some delays, was eventually released to critical and commercial success.
Similarly, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat (2018), starring Deepika Padukone, faced severe opposition from the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, who claimed the film distorted historical facts. Despite violent threats and delays, the film was released and went on to become a blockbuster.
Despite the precedent of past films receiving support, Ranaut feels isolated in her struggle, with only filmmaker and lyricist Varun Grover speaking out in her defense, calling the stalling of Emergency “ironical.” The release date for Emergency remains uncertain.