Kangana Ranaut on Friday revealed that her film Emergency has not received its censor certificate due to external pressures. Speaking candidly in a video posted on X, Kangana said, "There are a lot of rumours going around that Emergency has got a censor certificate, which is not true. Our film was cleared, but its certification has been halted due to threats. Censor board is receiving a lot of threat."
The actress and director, who portrays former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the film, expressed her frustration over the challenges facing the film's release. She said, "We are under a lot of pressure to avoid showing the assassination of Mrs Gandhi, or Bhindranwale or the Punjab riots. I don't know what we are supposed to show then. This is an unbelievable time for me, and I am sorry for the state of things."
Set to release on September 6, Emergency has ignited controversy, particularly among the Sikh community, for its portrayal of Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The film's trailer, launched on August 14, depicts Bhindranwale in a contentious light, showing him allegedly conspiring with Gandhi for political gain.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Delhi unit has filed a legal notice with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), demanding the film's release be halted. SAD's Delhi chief Paramjit Singh Sarna criticised the film for misrepresenting the Sikh community and stoking communal discord. "The film seems to be targeting the Sikh community rather than making a genuine political or historical argument," Sarna argued.
Additionally, Sikh hardliner Sarabjit Singh Khalsa has called for a ban in Punjab, warning of potential unrest. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) spokesperson Gurcharan Singh Grewal has also condemned the film, seeking its removal from all platforms and an apology from Ranaut.
SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, though not having seen the trailer, has voiced concerns about the film’s portrayal of Sikhs and linked it to Ranaut’s history of controversial remarks and incidents involving the Sikh community.