Manikarnika will be released this year, confirms Kangana Ranaut

Actress Kangana Ranaut, who is busy shooting for Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi on Monday (28 May) confirmed that the film will be released this year.

She made the announcement while interacting with media after stepping out of a suburban multiplex after watching Raazi, starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, on Monday in Mumbai.

There was quite a buzz about the release date of the film with some reports saying it was set to hit the big screens in April this year, but now the release date of the period drama has been pushed further.

On the delay, Ranaut said, "If you see, we started shooting of Manikarnika in the month of May last year and now it's been only one year since we started shooting.

"We launched the film in Varanasi on 5 May and we started shooting for it in June-July last year. I think when you make a film on a huge scale, then it normally takes one or one and half year but I can say that this year we will be able to release the film."

Praising Raazi, Ranaut said, "I really liked Raazi. It was awesome. Meghna (Gulzar) did a splendid job with the film. I think her film is going to cross Rs100 crore at the box office.

"I have no words to express performance of Alia (Bhatt) in the film. She is so good in the film. Meghna and Alia invited me on the trial of their film but I couldn't attend it because I was busy shooting for my film, then I promised them that I will watch the film soon. I am going to send Alia a congratulatory message for her film. I think Alia is most definitely undisputed queen. Its Alia's world and we are just living in it."

Asked if her Manikarnika will create the same magic onscreen, Kangana said, "When I watch another actor's work, I don't compare my film with the film that I am watching and when I watch a film then, I only think about that actor. This film's cast and crew deserves all the credit for the success of the film."

Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi is an epic biographical film based on the life of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. It is being directed by Krish and produced by Zee Studios in association with Kamal Jain and Nishant Pitti.

Ranaut plays the titular role in the film, which also stars Sonu Sood and Ankita Lokhande in important roles.