Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming directorial film, Emergency, is set to hit theaters next month, but the film has already sparked controversy. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has called for a ban on the film, claiming it portrays Sikhs in a negative light. The SGPC’s objections center on the portrayal of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a figure declared a community martyr by Akal Takht Sahib. Harjinder Singh Dhami, the SGPC president, criticized the film, alleging it distorts Bhindranwale’s image and called on the government to take legal action against Ranaut for allegedly inciting religious sentiments among Sikhs.
Adding to the controversy, Faridkot Member of Parliament (MP) Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh, one of Indira Gandhi’s assassins, has also demanded the film be banned. Khalsa asserts that Emergency misrepresents the Sikh community, reflecting a broader concern about the film’s portrayal of events and characters related to the Emergency era.
Meanwhile, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a prominent leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has urged that the SGPC review the film before its release. Speaking to the media in Amritsar, Badal highlighted the significant role played by the Akali Dal during the Emergency. She emphasized that SAD, under the leadership of the late Parkash Singh Badal, was at the forefront of resistance against the Emergency, facing numerous arrests.
“I haven’t seen the film, but if any party fought the biggest struggle during the Emergency, it was the Shiromani Akali Dal,” Harsimrat Kaur Badal remarked. She also expressed concern over Kangana’s alleged bias against Punjabis, referencing her controversial statements during the farmers’ protests.
Emergency delves into the events surrounding the 1975 Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with Kangana Ranaut portraying Gandhi. The film also features Shreyas Talpade, Anupam Kher, and Milind Soman. Kangana, who directed the film, was last seen in Tejas.
