Kangana Ranaut calls Oscars ‘silly’, predicts National Award for ‘Emergency’

Kangana Ranaut dismisses Oscar push for her film Emergency, highlighting America's alleged bullying of developing nations.

Kangana Ranaut isn’t keen on an Oscar push for her film Emergency, calling the Academy Awards ‘silly’. Released in theatres in January, Emergency stars Ranaut in the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film explores Mrs Gandhi’s controversial tenure during the repressive years of the Indian Emergency (1975-1977). Ranaut’s second directorial, the film received largely poor reviews and was declared a dud at the box-office. The political drama started streaming on Netflix on March 14.

On social media, the actor-director responded to a fan who claimed that Emergency should be sent as India’s official entry to the Oscars.

“But America wouldn’t like to acknowledge it’s real face, how they bully, supress and arm twist developing nations, it’s been exposed in #emergency,” Kangana wrote, adding, “They can keep their silly Oscar, we have National Award.”

Ranaut, an actor turned BJP MP, has won four National Awards so far. Her first win was for Best Supporting Actress for Fashion (2008). She was conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 2020.

Ranaut’s upcoming film is a psychological thriller co-starring R Madhavan. She will also feature in a film titled Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata.