"no one can direct it better than me.”
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut will be directing a film based on the life of Indira Gandhi.
As India’s first female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi marks an iconic period in Indian history.
Now, Ranaut is directing a film based on her extraordinary life, in which she will also star.
In January 2021, Kangana Ranaut announced she will play the former Prime Minister in an upcoming drama.
Now, she has revealed her plans to direct the film too.
According to Ranaut, the project, titled Emergency, is a grand period film about Gandhi’s life rather than a biopic.
Kangana Ranaut took to the social media app Koo to announce the news of her latest directorial.
She said:
“Pleased to wear director’s hat again, after working on Emergency for more than a year I finally figured no one can direct it better than me.”
Ranaut continued: “Collaborating with fabulous writer Ritesh Shah, even if it means sacrificing on various acting assignments I am determined to do it, my excitement is high.
“This is going to be a tremendous journey, my leap to another league #Emergency #Indira.”
Ranaut also took to her Instagram account to give fans a glimpse into her preparation for Emergency.
The images show Ranaut having casts made of her body and face to recreate Gandhi’s look.
Kangana Ranaut has previously spoken about her ambition to bring Indira Gandhi’s life to the big screen.
Speaking in a previous statement, she clarified her aim for the project. She said:
“To be precise, it is a political drama that will help my generation to understand the socio-political landscape of current India.”
Kangana Ranaut also said that, since Gandhi’s story has never been seen on-screen, she wanted to be the one to bring it to life.
She added:
“Even though I wanted another film, which I am also ready with, as my second directorial.
“But, it so happened that I was very keen to bring Indira Gandhi’s story which has never been brought to screen.”
“I was very eager to bring it to screen.”
Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister from January 1966 until March 1977, and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984.
She was India’s first and only female Prime Minister to date and was also the daughter of India’s very first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Indira Gandhi went to war with Pakistan in support of East Pakistan’s war of independence. India triumphed, and Bangladesh was formed.
Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency marks a significant period in Indian history.