Kangana Ranaut's emergency in trouble, Gurdwara committee calls for ban: “Creating an anti-Sikh narrative…”

A few days before its release, Kangana Ranaut's Emergency has landed in big trouble. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Akhal Takht demanded an immediate ban on the film as it allegedly tries to “defame” Sikhs by creating a narrative against them.

On Wednesday, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami held a press conference where he sought an FIR against Ranaut and raised objections to the film. He mentioned that there have been several cases in the past too where the sentiments of Sikhs have been hurt by the misrepresentation of the community in films. He demanded a ban on the film, called the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) “biased” and urged the inclusion of Sikh members in the censor board.

On the other hand, Gyani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar (head) of the Akal Takht, alleged that the film “deliberately misrepresents the character of Sikhs as separatists, which is part of a grand conspiracy.” He argued that the film “disrespects” the community and accused Kangana of “deliberately defaming” Sikhs. “The community must never forget the brutality against Sikhs in June 1984 and Ranaut's film attempts to defame Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, who was declared a Qaumi Shaheed (martyr of the community) by Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” he said.

Singh further alleged that the government is not taking any action against Kangana Ranaut despite her frequent anti-Sikh comments. He also urged the authorities to charge the actress and politician with “inciting religious sentiments of Sikhs through her act in the film Emergency”.

Kangana Ranaut announced Emergency for 2021, but later clarified that while it is a political drama, it is not an Indira Gandhi biopic. The actress is not only playing the lead role in the film but is also directing it. Besides Kangana, Emergency also stars Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry and Shreyas Talpade among others. While Shreyas Talpade will play the role of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Anupam Kher will be seen as Jayaprakash Narayan. Late actor Satish Kaushik will also be seen as former Deputy Prime Minister of India, Jagjivan Ram.

“Emergency” has been postponed several times and is now scheduled to hit theaters on September 6, 2024.