It is lowly to even think like that: Kangana Ranaut hits out at Manikarnika rumours

The controversy brigade recently took on actress Kangana Ranaut's Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, accusing the makers of including a romantic scene between the erstwhile queen of Jhansi and an Englishman.

On Tuesday, the Sarva Brahman Mahasabha claimed that the film included a love scene between an English officer and the legendary queen. This found support with the Rajput Karni Sena, who were recently in the news for causing mayhem over another rumoured scene in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat (2018).

Ranaut has now stepped up in defense of the project. Speaking to the media in Mumbai on Thursday, the actress slammed the rumours. She said, "It is very lowly (neech baat) to even think like that about Rani Laxmibai. We cannot even think like that, the kind of things they are saying. What they are saying is actually defaming. There is nothing like that. It is idle talk and I don’t know why it is being said." 

Cinestaan.com had earlier spoken to writer KV Vijayendra Prasad, who had also refuted any such scenes being present in the film. He had said, "There is nothing like that in the story." 

Considering the recent violence and damage caused to Bhansali's Padmaavat, which had to eventually approach the Supreme Court of India to find a release, Ranaut seems to be taking pre-emptive action. Hindustan Times quoted the actress saying, "We are hurt and upset. The writer of the film, Vijayendra Prasad has named his daughter Manikarnika. We are hurt that such things are being said about Rani Laxmibai." 

The producers of the film, Kamal Jain and Zee Studios, have also issued a clarification suggesting that there are no such scenes in the film. 

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is scheduled to be released on 27 April.