Actor-politician Ramya says audience rejected Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency because it was badly made: ‘Nothing to do with her as a person’

After being entangled in a string of controversies that led to significant delays in its release, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut’s solo directorial debut Emergency finally hit the screens on January 17. However, the film, reportedly made on a budget of about Rs 60 crore, bombed at the box office, grossing just Rs 23.75 crore worldwide, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. Set against the backdrop of the Indian Emergency, the movie featured Kangana herself in the lead role as then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

While many, including industry insiders, praised the film upon its debut, renowned South Indian actor Divya Spandana, known professionally as Ramya, recently shared her two cents on Emergency. Attributing its underperformance to poor execution, Ramya contrasted it with Kangana’s Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), which she felt was well made. She, nonetheless, stated that Kangana is a “talented” actor.

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“Emergency was a badly made film. Kangana Ranaut is a very talented actress and it has nothing to do with her as a person. But that movie was bad and that is why the audience rejected it. Kangana also made Manikarnika and that was a hit because the content was good and the audience liked it,” Ramya said during a panel discussion at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, Hindustan Times reported.

Helmed jointly by Kangana and Krish Jagarlamudi, Manikarnika was based on the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi. Made on a budget of Rs 101 crore, the film grossed Rs 142 crore worldwide. Unfortunately, Kangana has not had a box office success since her 2019 films Manikarnika and Judgementall Hai Kya. While Kangana is currently a member of the BJP and serves as the MP for Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Ramya, a Congress leader, previously served as the party’s social media cell in-charge and an MP.