Kangana Ranaut hosts special screening of ‘Emergency’; Nitin Gadkari praises builders
The much-awaited film ‘Emergency’ is getting a special screening at Cinepolis in Nagpur on Saturday. The high-profile event was graced by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher, and the film’s leading actress and director, Kangana Ranaut. In a heartfelt gesture, the screening also invited people who had been arrested during the Emergency for their activism. Among them is Laxmanrao Joshi, who narrated his emotional experiences during those times of trials and tribulations he faced.
Nitin Gadkari presents Emergency
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who attended the screening of the film for the first time, spoke about the importance of revisiting history. “I saw the Emergencies firsthand, it helped me to join politics. “Kangana has captured this critical chapter of our nation’s history well, ensuring that it reaches the new generation,” he said.
Recalling personal hardships, Gadkari said, “My grandfather died during the Emergency, and getting amnesty to attend the funeral was a struggle. Many people suffer greatly, facing police brutality, financial problems, and the pain of wrongful imprisonment. Kangana deserves a lot of credit for bringing this history to the screen. “
He also praised Kangana’s filmmaking skills, citing her previous work, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, as a masterpiece. “I hope this film will leave a lasting impact, like his previous films.”
He joined a special screening of the movie Emergency, which he accompanied @KanganaTeam Ji and Shri @AnupamPKher Ji, in Nagpur today. I wholeheartedly thank the filmmakers and actors for presenting a dark chapter of our nation’s history with such authenticity and beauty. I beg… pic.twitter.com/a6S0f5Q5bG
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) January 11, 2025
Kangana Ranaut expresses gratitude
Kangana, looking overwhelmed, shared her thoughts on the incident. “This is Emergency’s first show, and I am honored that Nitinji and Anupamji are there to support you. Nitinji feels like family, and his encouragement in difficult times has been a great help.”
He also revealed the difficulties he faced in making this film. “We have encountered intense audits from auditors, historians and legal experts. Every dialogue was scrutinized, and we had to provide a lot of evidence to support our narrative. After six months of patience, the film is here.”
Kangana added that Emergency is more than just a movie. “It is to honor those who fought and suffered during that dark time. I hope it will inspire young people to understand and appreciate the sacrifices made for our democracy.”
The show concludes with a touching discussion between the audience and the dignitaries. The event was not only entertaining but also showcased India’s resilience during one of its most challenging phases.
A state of emergency was imposed during the Indian Emergency from 1975 to 1977 when civil rights and press freedom were severely restricted. The film features Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahim Chaudhary, Anupam Kher, late Satish Kaushik, Vishak Nair, and others. Written by Ritesh Shah, the film will release on January 17, 2025.