In a recent interview, film director Keetan Mehta criticized Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika: Queen of Jhansi (2019). The director initially revealed that he had started making a film about the Queen of Jhansi with Kangana Ranaut and the research work for it. Keetan claimed that the final film turned out to be quite different from what he had originally envisioned. Also read: Keetan Mehta says he won’t watch Manikarnika after Kangana Ranaut accuses him of hijacking his film
Keetan Mehta and Kangana’s movie didn’t work out
In 2015, after the release of Manji – Mountain Man starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Ketan Mehta released a film about Rani Lakshmi Bai, casting Kangana Ranaut as the Queen of Jhansi. decided to However, things did not go well and Kangana dropped out of the project and she eventually starred in and co-directed Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi.
Years after his project was shelved, Keetan Mehta is best known for films like Maya Memsab (1993) and Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005). He explained the difference between the two versions.
Khetan Mehta on Rani Lakshmibai’s Khangana film
Keetan said the final product was “pathetic”. He also called Queen Manikarnika of Jhansi “patriotic and nationalistic”.
“It was utterly disappointing and heartbreaking. A lot of work was put into it. The final product was pathetic to say the least. The entire script was changed. My project was an international co-production, which went something like this: “British generals were obsessed with capturing Rani in Jhansi. It was more balanced. Manikarnika. – The Queen of Jhansi had become patriotic and nationalistic,” Ketan Mehta told Bollywood Hungama in a recent interview.
About Queen Manikarnika of Jhansi
Besides Kangana Ranaut, Manikarnika: Queen of Jhansi also starred Ankita Lokande, Suresh Oberoi, Atul Kulkarni and Danny Denzongpa. It is a biopic of Rani Lakshmi Bhai (played by Kangana), who led Jhansi’s forces in the 1857 Indian Rebellion against the East India Company. Ankita played the role of Jalkari Bai, a warrior in Rani Lakshmi Bai’s army and a close associate of the Queen.
Kangana’s project
Kangana next appears in “Emergency”. Besides playing the lead role of Indira Gandhi, the actor also produced and directed the film. “Emergency” stars Anupam Kher, Shreyas Tharpade, Mahima Chowdhury, Milind Soman and the late Satish Kaushik.
Her other upcoming films include P Vasu’s Chandramukhi 2 and the action film Tejas directed by Sarvesh Mewara. Tejas will be available on October 20th.
