Kangana Ranaut is currently busy filming for her ambitious epic period film, based on the life of Rani Laxmibai, titled Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. But only recently, the actress landed herself in a controversy after an image of a clapperboard from the sets of the film, showing Kangana as the director of the film, went viral. However, later it was clarified that as Krish Jagarlamudi, director of Manikarnika, is currently occupied with another project, and so Kangana has stepped in to shoot patchwork on his behalf. The entire decision was taken by mutual understanding.
But alas, controversies and Kangana go hand-in-hand and within no time, fresh reports started doing the rounds suggesting actor Sonu Sood's exit from the film. While some touted that Sonu could not justify the look for Manikarnika's patchwork as he had grown a beard for Rohit Shetty's Simmba, others attributed that the reason behind his move was Kangana's decision to take over the reigns of the film temporarily with director Krish busy shooting another film with NTR Jr.
However, now we hear that the latter is indeed true or to say, Kangana claims so. Speaking about it, the actress said, "Sonu and I haven't even met since the last shot with Krish (director) last year. He is busy filming Simmba. He couldn't even give us tentative dates to match combinations with other actors. The producers showed him the film and writers narrated the patchwork to him...he refused to meet me ...he vehemently denied to work under a woman director..... which is kind of amusing because Sonu is a dear friend and I have even launched the music of a film that he produced on his request..... even though the team suggested that they have full faith in me, it seems, Sonu had neither dates nor faith."
[caption id="attachment_124791" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kangana Ranaut with Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub[/caption]
Moreover, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub has already been roped to play Sadashivrao Bhau, the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army, a part that Sood had already shot.
Kangana further added, "And when I last spoke to him he suggested that I can go ahead with someone else and when I narrated the script to Zeeshan Ayyub he called the studio and gave the dates. By that time it was too late as Zeeshan gave me dates for September. Now I hear I had a showdown with him..... when I never met him, never directed him ..... when did I have this showdown?"
When contacted, Sonu Sood's spokesperson issued a statement and clarified, “Sonu has always been a thorough professional and honoured all his commitments. He had informed the makers of Manikarnika about his dates and schedule, well in advance. Inconveniencing the team of his current film, to accommodate the demands of another are against his professional principles. Sonu has taken the higher road ahead and wishes the team of Manikarnika all the best."
Furthermore, film's producer Kamal Jain also cleared the air regarding Sonu's exit.
https://twitter.com/Rahulrautwrites/status/1035451238165426176
We hope, Kangana is able to realise her dream project into reality with no more hurdles ahead.