Is it ‘Director Kangana Ranaut’ for Manikarnika? As clapperboard goes viral, actor’s rep issues statement

A clapperboard from the sets of Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film Manikarnika is going viral for bearing the actor’s name in the ‘director’ column. The film is directed by Krish Jagarlamudi.

The viral picture got the internet wondering if Kangana had indeed taken over the film as its director. “So #Manikarnika director Krish has left the movie midway.Imagine Rajmouli or Bhansali leaving their movie midway..Also heard #KanganaRanaut is directing this movie now. we all are familier with #simran fiasco where she was scriptwriter..God save Rani Laxmibai’s great Story,” wrote a Twitter user. “Who is directing manikarnika,” wrote another.

Kangana Ranaut is now the director as well of Manikarnika along with Krish Jagarlamudi @DirKrish … Mr @Apurvasrani are you surprised? pic.twitter.com/ISnVHXzd4x

— S Ramachandran (@indiarama) August 29, 2018

However, Kangana’s representatives have shared a clarification on the actor’s Instagram page and said that the clapperboard mentions her as the director ‘to avoid confusion’. “Krish Jagarlamudi is the director of #Manikarnika and will remain so. #KanganaRanaut has stepped in to shoot just the patchwork on his behalf while he fulfills his commitments in another movie, to make sure that #Manikarnika releases on 25th Jan 2019. The clapboard is merely to avoid on set confusion,” read the statement.

A report in Mumbai Mirror earlier last week said that Kangana was overseeing the project after Krish got busy with his other film, the Telugu biopic on NTR. A source told the daily, “Yes, there is some patchwork still to be completed and Krish has got busy with the NTR biopic. He is not to be blamed, Manikarnika is a period drama and such movies takes time. Kangana speaks to Krish over the phone almost every day to discuss the filming. He is there in spirit with the team of Vijayendra Prasad who has written the story and screenplay, and Prasoon Joshi who has penned the dialogue and lyrics, working closely with Kangana to wrap up the film.”

Speaking about rumours of a rift between her and director Krish who is helming Manikarnika, Kangana said in an interview with Mumbai Mirror, “Not true, we speak every day. Krish has another release on January 11 and could give dates only after that. After unveiling the first poster on August 15, we had the choice of coming on Republic Day or Independence Day, 2019. We decided to push for the former. The writers want certain transitional scenes shot before the release, I’ve assured the studio I won’t leave Manikarnika even if it means rescheduling dates and sacrificing personal time.”

Kangana plays Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi in Manikarnika, the poster for which was released on Independence Day. “It’s an iconic role. I learnt sword fighting and horse riding. I got fever after two days of galloping on a horse, I can only imagine the muscles of steel and nerves of thunderbolt Laxmibai had...I don’t feel anywhere close to her greatness, I have tried my best though,” Kangana said in a statement.

Produced by Zee Studios, in association with Jain, Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi, is slated to release on January 25 next year.

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First Published: Aug 30, 2018 10:11 IST