Kangana Ranaut’s sister has lashed out at Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi co-director Radha Krishnan Jagarlamudi, aka Krish, who has disputed the decision to give Kangana first billing as director on the posters for the film.
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Krish claimed that Kangana shot only 20-25 per cent of the first half and has added 4-5 shots in the climax. “I don’t think how Kangana can sleep well by taking the first credit in direction when she does not deserve it,” he said. He also expressed his displeasure at being credited by his full name rather than his professional moniker Krish at the last moment.
Kangana’s sister and manager Rangoli has responded to the director’s comments in a series of tweets.
Calling him “an opportunist”, she claimed that “he did everything to ruin the film, took film’s DOP away, didn’t let any of AD’s from previous team to work with her, he didn’t support anyone in the team and now he is saying Manikarnika is his baby.”
She alleged that Kangana fought to include Krish’s name in the credits despite opposition from the producers. She posted screenshots of texts Kangana allegedly sent to Manikarnika writer Vijayendra Prasad. In the messages Kangana claimed that Krish had botched up several action scenes which had to later be reshot.
“He should give a statement, not act like a coward,” she wrote claiming that Krish should have clarified that he handed over the reins to Kangana while he was occupied with filming NTR a biopic on actor-politician NT Rama Rao.
Rangoli claimed that Kangana attempted to contact Krish to show him the final cut for the film but he declined.
Rangoli went on to ask that Krish respond to screenshots of texts that Kangana had purportedly sent him. In her messages Kangana alleges that when “Mr Goyanka (sic) - Punit Goenka, MD and CEO, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd - watched the film, he refused to sign off on it and insisted that it be re-shot.
“They (the producers) spent extra 20 crores to clean the mess as they call it,” she wrote. “After I shot and edited the film studio saw it and liked, only thing they said its a new film and makes complete sense (sic). Stop feeling wronged or anything please come and see the film then decide for yourself. What your name should be in the credits that call only Kamal can take,” she added in her message.
Justifying her tirade on social media, Rangoli tweeted to Krish, “Kangana is very disturbed about constant conspiracies and public attacks, that’s why she sent this to me from Germany...”
Actor/director Pooja Bhatt, director Bejoy Nambiar and screenwriter Apurva Asrani are among those from the industry who have reacted to Krish’s statements and come out in his support.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)