Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency screening in London interrupted by "Khalistani Terrorists" says UK MP

Kangana Ranaut's Emergency disrupted in UK

A British Member of Parliament has accused "masked Khalistani terrorists" of threatening his constituents in northwest London after they disrupted a screening of Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency.

The incident, which caused considerable alarm, saw the group forcefully enter the theater, creating an unsafe environment for moviegoers.

Addressing the issue in Parliament, Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman called on the UK Home Secretary to take immediate action and ensure the safety of the public.

Opposition MP Bob Blackman informed the House of Commons that screenings of the "highly controversial" film were similarly disrupted in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Slough, Staines, and Manchester. As a result, the Vue and Cineworld cinema chains have decided to remove the film from several theaters across the UK.

“On Sunday, many of my constituents gathered and paid for a screening of the film Emergency in the Harrow Vue cinema. At about 30 or 40 minutes into the screening of the film, masked Khalistani terrorists burst in, threatened members of the audience and forced the screening to end,” Blackman mentioned in Parliament.

“The film is very controversial, and I am not commenting on its quality or content, but I defend the right of my constituents and other members’ constituents to be able to view it and make a decision on it. It covers the period when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of India,” he continued.

The MP pointed out that some in the UK consider the film to be "anti-Sikh," but emphasised that his constituents should have the right to form their own opinions without being "threatened by thugs who want to disrupt democratic opportunities to see public films."

"May we have a statement from the Home Secretary (Yvette Cooper) next week on what will be done to ensure that people who want to see such films, which have been passed by censors, can do so in peace and harmony? I absolutely defend the right of people to demonstrate outside cinemas, but not to disrupt viewings,” he further added

Lucy Powell, Leader of the Commons, responded on behalf of the Labour Party government, acknowledging that Blackman had raised a "very important matter about the relationship between free speech and the right to protest peacefully."

"The ability of people to go about their activities freely whatever they choose to do, whether that is seeing a film which, as he says, has been agreed by the censors and all those who look at those issues. I will certainly ensure that he and the whole House get an update on the very important matters he raises," stated Powell.

Since its release last Friday, several British Sikh groups have staged protests against Emergency, leading to disruptions at some UK cinemas. The Sikh Press Association expressed on social media that the film is perceived as "anti-Sikh," and as a result, screenings were canceled in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, both located in the West Midlands region of England.

Community group Insight UK shared a video on its X platform, showing masked protesters disrupting a London screening of Emergency, a film directed by Kangana Ranaut, who also portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the movie.

Masked pro-Khalistan extremists storm Vue cinema in Harrow: Eye witness accountOn 19 January 2025, masked extremists from the pro-Khalistan separatist movement stormed into Harrow Vue Cinema in London and stopped a screening of the movie Emergency. There were elderly people, pic.twitter.com/1TNg5XUGCk

INSIGHT UK (@INSIGHTUK2) January 21, 2025

Directed by Kangana Ranaut, Emergency is a political thriller that depicts Indira Gandhi’s time as Prime Minister of India, with a particular focus on the 1975 Emergency. The film sparked controversy after some Sikh groups accused it of being "anti-Sikh," a claim that Kangana has firmly denied. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

The film also features Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, and the late Satish Kaushik. It was released last week following multiple delays.

(With Inputs: PTI)