Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film Emergency has hit another roadblock. Initially scheduled for release on September 6, the film’s debut has now been postponed. On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court declined to direct the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a certification for the film, citing a directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court that required the CBFC to review objections to the film before issuing the certificate.
The controversy stems from allegations by Sikh organizations accusing the makers of Emergency of misrepresenting the Sikh community and distorting historical facts.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises, the producer of Emergency, had approached the Bombay High Court seeking an order to expedite the issuance of the CBFC certificate. The film, directed by Kangana Ranaut, who also plays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has been awaiting clearance amidst concerns over potential law and order issues following its release.
On September 4, a bench comprising Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla acknowledged the producer’s claim that the certification process had been completed but was being withheld. However, the court noted that due to the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s directive, it could not intervene at this time.
The MP High Court’s order followed petitions from Sikh groups who argued that certain scenes in the film might hurt their religious sentiments, prompting the CBFC to consider these objections before granting approval.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Kangana Ranaut expressed her frustration on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “High court has blasted censor for illegally withholding the certificate of #emergency.”
In addition to Kangana, Emergency features a star-studded cast including Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, the late Satish Kaushik, and Milind Soman. The film’s new release date will likely depend on the CBFC’s decision, expected by September 18.
