I asked Priyanka Gandhi to watch 'Emergency', she said 'OK, maybe': Kangana Ranaut
Mumbai, Jan 8: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra complimented Kangana Ranaut on her work and her hair when they crossed paths in Parliament and responded with an “okay, maybe” when the actor and BJP MP asked the Congress leader to watch her new film “Emergency”.
The much in the news film sees Ranaut playing the late Indira Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi’s grandmother. Directed and produced by Ranaut, it documents the 21 months of Emergency imposed in 1975 by then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
“I met Mrs Priyanka Gandhi in Parliament and she complimented me on my work and my hair. So I was like, ‘You know, I made this film Emergency and maybe you should see it’. And she was like, ‘Okay, maybe’. And I think if they have a little bit of acceptance for what has been, they will appreciate the film,” Ranaut told PTI in a video interview about her brief interaction with the Wayanad MP.
The film will release on January 17 after months of controversy over its censor certificate and allegations that it misrepresents the Sikh community.
Ranaut, the BJP’s MP from Mandi, said she took “no liberties at all” in the portrayal of Indira Gandhi and the Emergency months.
The actor, often in the news for her comments, added that she thought Indira Gandhi was a "very powerful person" before she started working on "Emergency".
"But when I did my research, I understood it was quite the contrary. It also strengthened my belief that the weaker you are, the more control you would want. She was a very weak person and she was also very unsure of herself and really vulnerable.
"She had many crutches around and she was constantly seeking a kind of validation. She was also hugely dependent on many people, one of them was Sanjay Gandhi... I didn't have that kind of empathy for her before 'Emergency'."
Ranaut is no stranger to playing real-life characters on screen: she portrayed freedom fighter Rani of Jhansi in "Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi" and the late Tamil Nadu chief minister-film star J Jayalalithaa in "Thalaivii".
According to the first-time MP, “people” tried hard to stop “Emergency” from releasing.
"I was completely devastated. I thought maybe it will never see the light of the day. Because there was earlier a film on Mrs Gandhi called 'Kissa Kursi Ka'.
"I thought maybe it's jinxed or something that you can't make a film on her... And I had also put some investments into it. There were a lot of issues, obviously I was disheartened," Ranaut said.
"Emergency" missed out on its September 6, 2024 release date as it was unable to obtain the clearance certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Ranaut had then accused the CBFC of stalling the certification. The matter went to the Bombay High Court where production banner Zee Studios eventually agreed to comply with the changes suggested by CBFC's revising committee.
She did not reveal the number of cuts the CBFC directed but said she would have liked the film to release the way she had made it.
The film, Ranaut said, has not been made with the intention of hurting people or their sentiments. "As the film is not made with that intention, even if that was removed, it doesn't impact my story."
Describing "Emergency" as an "unusual and controversial" film, Ranaut said audiences are used to watching traditional song-and-dance movies from Bollywood.
"But when you have something so unusual, people are a bit unsettled about it. 'How come she made a film like this?' This is controversial and talks about a very important chapter in history."
The 38-year-old, known for films such as "Gangster", the "Tanu Weds Manu" franchise, "Fashion", "Queen" and "Panga", said she believes in the "power of authenticity".
"Since my film was deeply scrutinised, I had to present proof of the documentation, the source, everything. I had to face a lot of setbacks, challenges, scrutiny and all kinds of pressures.
"They say truth eventually trumps over everything. We presented all the proof. Different communities, (political) parties, historians, common man, anyone who has seen the film has said there is nothing objectionable in it," she said.
Has acting taken a back seat after becoming an MP last June?
"Not really a back seat but yes being a parliamentarian is also a very demanding job. I have been going to Parliament almost every month. There has been a little bit of a setback in terms of my shootings. I'm not able to, but I will resume," she said.
"Emergency" also stars Anupam Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade in the role of a young Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Milind Soman as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Mahima Choudhary as Pupul Jayakar and the late Satish Kaushik in the role of Jagjivan Ram. It is produced by Manikarnika Films.
VIDEO | Here's what actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) said responding to a query whether she had any interaction with the Gandhi family regarding her upcoming film 'Emergency'.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 8, 2025
"No, no, they didn't reach out to me, but I met Priyanka Gandhi in the Parliament and she… pic.twitter.com/UnbfsBxCxg
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
