Jobaaj Stories
Kangana Ranaut’s highly anticipated film Emergency had its release this Friday, making waves at the box office. Despite a slower start, the film has become Kangana’s biggest opening in five years, especially after the pandemic. According to Sacnilk, the film earned ₹2.35 crore on its first day.
This opening marks the best for Kangana's solo projects in recent years. Her previous film, Tejas (2023), earned ₹1.25 crore on day one, and Dhaakad (2022) earned ₹1.20 crore. In comparison, Emergency had a far better start. Kangana’s biggest pre-pandemic opening came from her 2020 film Panga, which earned ₹2.70 crore.
Emergency is a political drama where Kangana plays the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It focuses on the 21 months of emergency rule that took place between 1975 and 1977. However, the film has faced controversy due to its portrayal of the Sikh community. Last August, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) sent a legal notice to the filmmakers, accusing them of misrepresenting Sikh history and demanding the removal of allegedly "anti-Sikh" content. In response, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami called for a ban on the film, and several cinemas in Punjab, including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, and Bathinda, did not screen it. This led to a heavy police presence outside cinemas in those areas.
Despite these challenges, Kangana has stood firm, calling the ban demand an "harassment" to both the movie and its creators. The movie is being shown across India, though its release has faced challenges, particularly in parts of Punjab.
