Actor and politician Kangana Ranaut has alleged that her upcoming film Emergency, where she portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is facing delays in obtaining certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to death threats against board members. In a video shared on social media platform X, Ranaut clarified that contrary to rumors, the film has not yet been cleared for release.
“There are rumours that our film Emergency has got the censor certificate. It is not true. In fact, our film was cleared but its certification has been stopped because of several threats,” said Ranaut. She further claimed that she and her team are under pressure not to depict sensitive historical events, including Gandhi’s assassination, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, and the Punjab riots. “I don’t know what we should show then. This is unbelievable for me and I’m sorry for the state of things in this country,” she added.
Ranaut’s comments come amid heightened tensions following the release of the movie’s trailer, which has led to threats against her from extremist Sikh groups. In a widely circulated video, an extremist threatened her, referencing the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards in 1984. The individual warned that if Bhindranwale is depicted as a terrorist in the film, consequences would follow similar to those Gandhi faced.
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Khalistani militant, was killed during Operation Blue Star, an event that led to the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on October 31, 1984.
The controversy surrounding Emergency escalated further as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) issued a legal notice to the CBFC, seeking to block the film’s release. The party claimed the film could incite communal tensions and spread misinformation. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also called for a ban on the film, accusing it of misrepresenting Bhindranwale, who is regarded as a martyr by the Sikh community.
Emergency features an ensemble cast including Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishal Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik. The film is scheduled for release on September 6.