Sonu Sood storms out of Manikarnika

The versatile and prolific Sonu Sood has apparently walked out of the lavish historical biopic Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi because of leading lady Kangana Ranaut’s high-handedness on set. The project is now in danger of remaining incomplete.

Reports of Kangana having taken over the film’s directorial reins are followed by ugly tales from the film’s set. The actress has allegedly had showdowns with several members of the cast, most recently Sonu. Her attempts to tell the skilled and experienced actor what he should be doing haven’t gone down well with him.

Says a reliable source from the team, “Yes, Sonu has left the film. And he has informed the producers about his decision. He had to take a lot of crap from a person who thinks she knows how to direct a film without any real qualifications.”

“When Kangana took over the project, she wanted Sonu’s role to be cut down. And that was the last straw. The normally mild-mannered Sonu just erupted,” the source adds.

Sood’s abrupt departure brings the film’s fate into question, as he was to play a pivotal part in it. We wonder if the producers will continue to give into their leady lady’s demands even at the risk of losing more actors and technicians.

Kangana’s Clarification

• “Sonu and I haven’t even met since the last shot with Krish (director) last year. He is busy filming Simmba. He couldn't even give us tentative dates to match combinations with other actors. The producers showed him the film and writers narrated the patchwork to him...he refused to meet me and vehemently denied to work under a woman director which is kind of amusing because Sonu is a dear friend and I have even launched the music of a film that he produced on his request. Even though the team suggested that they have full faith in me, it seems, Sonu had neither dates nor faith.”
• When asked if the portions shot with him earlier will now be reshot? Kangana added, “Yes, none of the portions he has shot before will be used because he has spiked hair with gel in his hair (for Manikarnika). So the new team of DOP and editors and our writers of Manikarnika have discarded those scenes so I have to shoot all of that anyway so it’s easy to get another actor on board. Who keeps spiked hair for a period film?”