The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : Kangana Ranaut, who stars in and directs the upcoming film “Emergency,” is facing serious threats ahead of the movie’s release on September 6. The film, which portrays the events during the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in India, has sparked controversy, particularly among some extremist Sikh groups.
The threats emerged after the release of the movie’s trailer, in which Kangana plays the role of Indira Gandhi. Following the trailer’s launch, a video surfaced online showing a member of an extremist Sikh group issuing a beheading threat to the actress. The man, in his statement, makes a reference to the assassination of Indira Gandhi, suggesting a similar fate for Kangana if the film portrays Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a terrorist.
In the video, the individual states: “If he (Bhindranwale) is portrayed as a terrorist in the movie, remember what happened to the person (Indira Gandhi) whose movie you are doing and who were Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. We will offer our head to Santji, and those who can offer their head can also chop others off.” Bhindranwale was a Khalistani militant who was killed during Operation Blue Star in 1984, a military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi to remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The operation led to widespread controversy and anger, particularly among Sikhs. Following Bhindranwale’s death, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on October 31, 1984, an event that has left a lasting impact on India’s history.
Reacting to the threats, Kangana Ranaut took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to seek police protection. She shared the threatening video and tagged the Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh Police, and Punjab Police, urging them to take action. In her post, she wrote, “Please look into this,” highlighting the seriousness of the threat.
Kangana, who is also a BJP Member of Parliament from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, has been vocal about her views on various political and social issues, often courting controversy. Her portrayal of Indira Gandhi in “Emergency” has already attracted significant attention, given the sensitive nature of the historical events depicted in the film. The movie is expected to delve into the complexities of the Emergency period, a controversial time in Indian history when civil liberties were suspended, and many political opponents were imprisoned.
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