Kangana Ranaut compares ‘Emergency’ with Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is generating buzz with her upcoming film “Emergency”, in which she portrays former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. During a recent interview with India Today, Ranaut made a bold comparison, likening her film to Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed “Oppenheimer” and even describing it as a modern-day Shakespearean tragedy akin to “Macbeth”.

Ranaut, known for her outspoken nature and controversial remarks, discussed the complexities of Indira Gandhi’s character and the challenges of categorising historical figures as simply “good” or “bad.”

When asked about the sensitive nature of the film’s subject, she responded, “I don’t understand why people are so uncomfortable with the truth, as if it doesn’t stand glaringly before us. Indira Gandhi was a multifaceted individual, and my film seeks to explore that complexity rather than simplifying her into moral extremes.”

Drawing a comparison to “Oppenheimer”, Ranaut elaborated, “In ‘Oppenheimer’, you’re left questioning whether to root for him or not—whether he’s being manipulated or is the manipulator. Life is rarely black and white; it demands so much from us, sometimes even forcing us to become what we never intended to be. That’s why I view ‘Emergency’ as a Shakespearean tragedy, much like ‘Macbeth’. Just as Macbeth was destined for greatness but was haunted by the means through which he achieved it, ‘Emergency’ delves into the idea that even the best of us can fall victim to hubris.”

Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”, set during World War II, chronicles the life of physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, the Father of the Atomic Bomb. The film, which earned seven Oscars earlier this year, including Best Picture and Best Director, captures the moral dilemmas and existential fears surrounding the creation of nuclear weapons.

Directed by Kangana Ranaut herself, “Emergency” is set to hit theatres on September 6.

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