Ketan Mehta is one of the celebrated filmmakers in parallel cinema. The filmmaker recently turned candid about initially starting Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi with Kangana Ranaut and doing research work for the same. He alleged that it turned out to be a different story than what he had initially thought when Kangana decided to do a rival project.
For those unaware, Ketan Mehta went against the tide along with Govind Nihalani and Shyam Benegal, who are also considered among the best movie directors.
It’s a known fact, in the 80s Hindi cinema was all about violence, sex, double-meaning lyrics, glorifying sexism and normalising stalking and eve-teasing. In the backdrop of such a framework, Ketan made films like Bhavni Bhavai (1980), Holi (1984) and Mirch Masala (1985). He also made the biopic on the revolutionary Mangal Pandey starring Aamir Khan.
Ketan lambasted Kangana Ranaut’s film in an interaction with Bollywood Hungama and said, “It was entirely unfortunate, and heart-breaking. A lot of work had gone into it. What finally was made was pathetic, to say the least.”
He further added, “The entire script was changed. My project was an international co-production. It was about British Generals’ obsession with capturing the Rani of Jhansi. It was more balanced. Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi became jingoistic and nationalistic.”
“What she has done is unacceptable. She has stolen my project that I worked on for over a decade,” Ketan had said during a 2017 interview with the same portal.
On the professional front, Kangana will next be seen in Emergency. The actor is also the producer and director, apart from herself playing Indira Gandhi in the movie. Emergency also stars Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Vishak Nair and the late Satish Kaushik.
She has also commenced shooting for P Vasu’s Chandramukhi 2. She will also feature in the magnum opus Sita: The Incarnation where she plays the titular role.
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