Screening of Kangana Ranaut-starrer ‘Emergency’ cancelled in many theatres across Punjab; actor slams ‘harassment’
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) called off its protests after theatres across the state decided not to screen the film.

Theatres across Punjab cancelled the screening of the movie Emergency, starring actor and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, following protests on Friday as the political drama released across the country. Ranaut, who plays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the film, called it a “complete harassment of art and the artist” and slammed the “propaganda” to tarnish her image.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) chief secretary Kulwant Singh Manan said strong protests were held outside theatres across Punjab on Friday to block the release of the movie. “In response to the SGPC’s demonstrations, theatres have decided not to screen the film. Following this decision, the protests were called off. We welcome the decision by cinema owners not to screen the film,” he said, adding, “The SGPC will not allow this film to be screened in Punjab under any circumstances. If anyone attempts to show the film, the committee will resume its protests.”
Sikh organisations had been protesting against the movie’s release. On Thursday, SGPC had demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ban its screening in Punjab.
Online movie ticket booking websites also did not list any theatre in Punjab where the movie could be watched.
Earlier in the day, PVR Cinemas in Amritsar cancelled its shows in the wake of the protests. Gagandeep Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), Amritsar, said, “The movie is not being released. We spoke to the manager and he came out and announced that the movie is not being released.”
Sikh activist Parmjit Singh Akali said the screening of Emergency, which is also directed by Ranaut, was prevented at all theatres in Amritsar. “Cinema owners, understanding the sentiments of the Sikh community, agreed not to show the film,” he said. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), led by Simranjit Singh Mann, also opposed the film.
Reacting to the development, Kangana Ranaut took to X on Friday and posted, “This is complete harassment of art and the artist, from Punjab many cities are reporting that these people are not allowing Emergency to be screened. I have utmost respect for all religions and after studying and growing up in Chandigarh I have closely observed and followed Sikh religion. This is a complete lie and propaganda to tarnish my image and harm my film #Emergency.”
She was responding to Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who sought a ban on the movie. Earlier in the day, Khaira posted on X: “I support the demand of @SGPCAmritsar to ban the film Emergency directed by @KanganaTeam a known critic of farmers & Sikhs without knowing their contribution towards our country. SGPC is our elected representative body and @BhagwantMann should take immediate steps to ban the film that depicts Sikhs in bad light and brings defamation to our state of Punjab and its people.”
In a letter to the chief minister, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had said previously that the movie was a “calculated attempt to distort history and harm Sikh sentiments” and warned that releasing it could provoke outrage within the Sikh community.
The film’s release was earlier delayed after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sought several cuts in the movie after Sikh groups raised concerns over the portrayal of the community.