British Sikh groups have staged protests against Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency, leading to disruptions in screenings at several UK cinemas during its opening weekend.
The Sikh Press Association (PA) took to social media to express concerns, labeling the film as “anti-Sikh.” The protests have reportedly caused screenings to be canceled in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, both located in England’s West Midlands region.
Meanwhile, community organization Insight UK shared a video on its X platform, showing protesters interrupting a screening of Emergency at a cinema in Harrow, northwest London. The film, directed by Kangana Ranaut, features her in the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Insight UK stated, "Pro-Khalistan extremists storm Harrow cinema and attempt to stop the screening of Emergency". Previously, Sikh PA had issued a statement expressing the group’s opposition to the film, which depicts the Emergency period in India during the 1970s. “UK Sikhs are protesting at cinemas (sic) across the UK regarding today’s release of the film Emergency, a biopic of former India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi considered anti-Sikh propaganda,” the group stated on X in time for the film’s release on Friday.
“The film stars and was created by Kangana Ranaut, a notorious actress/politician in India, who pushes bigoted rhetoric about the minority Sikh-Punjabi community. Indira Gandhi was the PM who initiated the #SikhGenocide before her assassination,” the Sikh PA statement adds.
Meanwhile, Ranaut shared a video on social media, expressing both gratitude and disappointment over the film’s reception, particularly in Punjab and among certain Sikh communities overseas.
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Speaking in Hindi, Ranaut said, "On behalf of Zee Studio, Manikarnika Film, and all the members of Ease My Trip, I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You all gave so much love and respect to our film. We don’t even have words to express our gratitude. But, I still have some pain in my heart. Punjab. In the industry, it was said that my films perform the best in Punjab. And today is a day when my film is not even allowed to be released in Punjab. In the same way, some attacks are being carried out on people in Canada and Britain. Some people, some small-minded people have set this country on fire. And you and I are burning in this fire.”
The filmmakers have described the film’s box office performance as “impressive,” stating that it garnered Rs 12.26 crores by the end of its opening weekend.
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