The country is burning with rage thanks to the Pulwama Terror Attack that took place on Thursday February 14. A suicide car bomber, belonging to the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed, rammed into a convoy of vehicles carrying CRPF jawans, killing 49 and injuring around 35 soldiers. It was the deadliest attack on the armed forces in a long time and no wonder it led to a wave of shock and disgust across the length and breadth of the country. Just like the rest of the people, members of the Bollywood fraternity too came forward to condemn this deadly attack.
Out of all these condemnations, the one by Kangana Ranaut was the sharpest and quite critical. The actress sent a press release wherein she made her anger for Pakistan loud and clear, and how. She stated, “Pakistan has not only violated our nation’s security they have also attacked our dignity by openly threatening and humiliating us, we need to take decisive actions or else our silence will be misunderstood for our cowardice. Bharat is bleeding today; the killing of our sons is like a dagger in our gut. Anyone who lectures about non-violence and peace at this time should be painted black put on a donkey and slapped by everyone on the streets.”
She then attacked the ‘anti-nationals’ in the film industry and particularly targeted Shabana Azmi. She said, “People like Shabana Azmi calling for halt on cultural exchange. They are the ones who promote Bharat tere Tukade honge gangs…. why did they organize an event in Karachi in the first place when Pakistani artists have been banned after Uri attacks and now they are trying to save face. Film industry is full of such anti-nationals who boost enemy’s morals in many ways but right now is the time to focus on decisive actions. Pakistan ban is not the focus, Pakistan destruction is.”
Kangana Ranaut’s statement astonished many as they felt that she went overboard with her criticism. Also dragging Shabana Azmi needlessly also didn’t go down with many netizens and Bollywood fans. But a section of people also praised her for her patriotism. They also felt her comments on Pakistan were absolutely justified and that the country, known for spreading terror on our soil, deserved such kind of language
All these fans and supporters of Kangana Ranaut however would be quite shocked to know that her recent film, Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi, based on the life and sacrifice on the brave Rani Lakshmibai, is still running in the theatres of Pakistan! Yes, you read it right. Kangana wants this country to be destroyed but she has no qualms in showing her film in that same nation and earn moolah.
A quick search on the internet shows that the Kangana Ranaut period drama, also co-directed by her, is running in quite a few theatres in Lahore. In Universal cinemas Lahore, Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi has one show a day, at 10:45 pm. Meanwhile it has four shows in Cinepax multiplex, located in the Packages Mall of Lahore. At Cinestar ATC, it has 2 shows, one at 5:00 pm and the other at 10:00 pm. It also has one show each in Islamabad, Gujranwala and Hyderabad. There might be more cinemas, perhaps not covered by internet booking websites, which would also be showing this film. Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi released in Pakistan on the same day as India – January 25 – and it is distributed in the neighbouring country by IMGC.
While it is totally justified to be angry over Pakistan for causing madness and destruction in our country, one should at the same time also practice what one preaches. Ajay Devgn took a valid decision of not releasing his upcoming film Total Dhamaal in the Pakistan theatres. While this adventure comedy will release worldwide on February 22, it won’t get a release in Pakistan. Kangana Ranaut showed so much anger for the neighbouring country in her statement and yet, it’s shocking that she didn’t withdraw the screenings of Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi. Does her non-action in this regard not come under the purview of being ‘anti-national’? And of course she can’t argue that she’s simply an actor on this film and hence couldn’t decide on this issue. After all, she herself shouted from the rooftops that she’s the co-director of the film and how she had a considerable say in the film’s making. And let’s not forget that she slammed Shabana Azmi for agreeing to attend an event despite the ghastly Uri attacks in 2016. By that logic, why did she allow the release of Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi in the first place?
As a result, Kangana surely has a lot to answer in this regard and it remains to be seen how she defends this valid allegation on her.
