Trouble for Kangana Ranaut? SGPC calls for ban on “state of emergency” for “inciting religious sentiments of Sikhs”

Kangana Ranaut's Emergency made controversial headlines days before its release. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Akhal Takht demanded an immediate ban on the film, claiming that Ranaut's film was an attempt to “bring Sikhs down to earth” and create a narrative against them.

On Wednesday, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami held a press conference and demanded an FIR against Ranaut while raising objections to the film.

He said that there have been several cases in the past too where the sentiments of Sikhs have been hurt due to the misrepresentation of this community in films.

Dhami called for a ban on the film, calling the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) “biased” and urging that Sikh members be included in the censorship board.

Meanwhile, Gyani Raghbir Singh, chairman of the Akal Takht, claimed that the film “deliberately misrepresents the character of Sikhs as separatists, which is part of a grand conspiracy”.

He also said the film “disrespects” the community and accused Ranaut of “deliberately defaming the Sikhs.”

“The community must never forget the brutality against the Sikhs in June 1984 and Ranaut's film tries to destroy the reputation of Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, who was declared a Qaumi Shaheed (martyr of the community) by Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” he said.

He also stressed that the government has not taken any action against Kangana Ranaut despite her frequent opposition to Sikhs.

He also called on the authorities to charge the actress-turned-politician with “inciting religious feelings of the Sikhs and her act in the film Emergency.”

Kangana Ranaut unveiled her film Emergency in 2021 and later clarified that while it is a political drama, it is not a biopic on Indira Gandhi. The actress not only plays the lead role but also directs the film.

Besides Kangana, Emergency stars Mahima Chaudhry, Anupam Kher, Milind Soman and Shreyas Talpade. Talpade will portray Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Anupam Kher will appear as Jayaprakash Narayan and the late Satish Kaushik will play former Deputy Prime Minister of India Jagjivan Ram.

The release of “Emergency” has been postponed several times and is currently scheduled to premiere in theaters on September 6, 2024.