Kangana Ranaut revealed her fascination with the “Shakespearean tragedy” of Indira Gandhi’s life and political career, particularly focusing on the events surrounding the 1975 Emergency—a period often described as the “darkest chapter of Indian democracy.” This tumultuous time in Indian history is the backdrop for Ranaut’s forthcoming political drama, ‘Emergency.’ Aside from playing the lead role of Indira Gandhi, Ranaut has also undertaken the roles of director, co-writer, and producer for the film, which is slated for a theatrical release on September 6.
The trailer for ‘Emergency’ premiered in Mumbai on Wednesday, August 14. At the launch event, Ranaut reflected on Indira Gandhi’s own words about the Emergency: “Mrs Gandhi once referred to the Emergency as a ferocious beast that she was riding, but one that would eat her alive if she dismounted. How a conscientious individual, under the influence of their ego, takes certain steps and how they can never draw back from it without paying a price became a big inspiration for me.”
This film marks Ranaut’s second directorial venture after ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ (2019). ‘Emergency’ seeks to depict the challenges and repressive actions taken by an unyielding Indira Gandhi during her tumultuous tenure, including incarcerating political opponents, dismantling her own cabinet, and imposing strict controls on the press and civil liberties.
The cast features veteran actor Anupam Kher as the socialist leader and staunch political adversary, Jayaprakash Narayan. Additional noteworthy portrayals include Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Milind Soman as Sam Manekshaw, the late actor Satish Kaushik as Jagjivan Ram, and Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi. Mahima Chaudhry makes her return to the silver screen after an eight-year hiatus, playing Pupul Jayakar, a cultural activist and confidante to Indira Gandhi.
Ranaut expressed heartfelt gratitude to her cast for their unwavering faith in the project, acknowledging the professional risks they took in working with her: “Everybody knows I have been boycotted by the industry. It’s not easy to stand with me, it’s not easy to do my film, and it’s most definitely not easy to praise me.” She also extended her thanks to her mentor, veteran screenwriter V. Vijayendra Prasad, for his guidance and inspiration.
Referring to his role as JP Narayan, Anupam Kher said the character represented a hero of his formative years. Kher, who was a young drama school student in Delhi when the Emergency was declared, reflected on Narayan’s role: “JP Narayan was the hope of the youth and the country to fight against this oppression. When Kangana approached me for this part, I was already inclined to portray someone who had contributed so much. Unfortunately, as life moves forward, we tend to forget our heroes.
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The release date for ‘Emergency’ had to be adjusted due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Concurrently, Ranaut contested for the BJP from Mandi in her home state of Himachal Pradesh, securing a seat as a first-time Member of Parliament. She harbors hopes her journey will inspire more women to consider politics as a viable career path: “We are in good times now, especially with the 33% reservation to women under the Women’s Reservation Bill. The situation in the next election is going to be such that we won’t have enough women. 33% will be a huge number to fill in local, state, and national elections. So, I would like women to be inspired to be in this field.”
When asked whether she would continue to act while pursuing a political career, Ranaut left the decision to the public: “I would like people to decide that. For example, I never said I wanted to be a leader; I met the criteria to be given a ticket and it was the people’s choice that I should fight elections. Similarly, if tomorrow ‘Emergency’ works, and people want to see more of me, I would continue with films. Otherwise, if I feel that I have more success in politics, and I’m needed there more, I will let life decide. At present, I have no plans of picking one over the other.”
Ranaut was also asked if she had any desire to direct a feature film starring the three Khans—Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir. Responding to what has been a tantalizing concept for many in Bollywood, she remarked, “I would love to produce and direct a film with all three Khans. I would love to show their talented side where they can act, look good, and also do something significant for society. There’s an artistic side to all three of them that has not been explored other than in just a few films.”
Adding a personal note, she said, “One actor I would always regret not being able to direct is Irrfan Khan. He was one of my favorite Khans.”
In addition to her directorial and acting ambitions, Ranaut is venturing into the arena of Indian politics. Combining her multiple roles, she continues to influence both the cinematic and political landscapes of India.
