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The article delves into the interesting history of two Bollywood actresses, Vidya Balan and Kangana Ranaut, and their involvement in biopics of influential Indian political figures. In 2018, Vidya Balan secured the rights to portray Indira Gandhi on screen, based on Sagarika Ghose's book, 'Indira: India's Most Powerful Prime Minister'. This project, initially envisioned as a web series, was a long-held dream for Vidya Balan. Her husband, Siddharth Roy Kapur, was set to produce the series through their company, Roy Kapur Films, with Ritesh Batra directing. However, the project faced delays due to script rewrites and the complexities of adapting the story for a web series format.
In a 2019 interview with Firstpost, Vidya Balan mentioned that she had been offered the role of Indira Gandhi multiple times over the years, but always declined until she could secure the necessary permissions. She also revealed that she turned down the role of J Jayalalithaa in the film 'Thalaivi' because she was committed to the Indira Gandhi project and felt that portraying two similar political figures in close succession would be too similar. Kangana Ranaut, however, went on to play both J Jayalalithaa in 'Thalaivi' (2021) and Indira Gandhi in her upcoming film 'Emergency'. 'Emergency' is co-produced by Zee Studios and Kangana's own production company, Manikarnika Films.
Fast forward to present day, Kangana Ranaut announced on social media that 'Emergency' has been postponed due to delays in obtaining certification from the Central Board of Film Certification. The film, directed by Kangana herself, is her first solo directorial venture. She cited issues with some elements of the film's depiction of the Sikh community as a contributing factor to the delay. This news highlights the complexities involved in film production and release, particularly when historical figures and sensitive topics are involved.