Manikarnika: Kangana says Sonu denied to work under woman director, confirms his exit

Mumbai: After the discrepancies over the director credits for the movie floated around, the fresh reports suggest that actor Sonu Sood who was playing a pivotal role in the movie has quit following a showdown with film’s lead actress Kangana Ranaut.

However, when we got in touch with Kangana for the clarification, she said, "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 but he refused to meet me. He 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."

She added, “And when I last spoke to him he suggested that I can go ahead with someone else and when I narrated the script to Zeeshan Ayyub he called the studio and gave the dates. By that time it was too late as Zeeshan gave me dates for September. Now I hear I had a showdown with him (Sonu), when I never met him, never directed him, when did I have this showdown?"

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). 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?"

Kangana also revealed that Sonu decided to incorporate a few Kushti scenes which were never there in the script earlier. The actor said, "He himself wrote his scenes of Kushti...like Dangal...which were never in the script. He and director shot a lot of stuff which was never in the script and writers discarded those. Is it my fault? Am I writing the film? He wanted the producers to retain the kushti portions as he made the body for it for 4 months. How did I know that is happening behind my back. When writers saw the film they said they don't want it."

Kangana also took this chance to clarify once again about the whole clapboard confusion that happened recently, where her name was mentioned as the director. Kangana revealed, "One more thing I never asked anyone to put my name on clapboard it’s AD’s business .... person on the floor is in charge, is answerable for many things that must have been the idea but constant attacks while I am going through a difficult phase is not acceptable." Hoping to put all this behind, Kangana said, "I am just a slave in Manikarnika’s hands I am doing this only for her. I have made it clear to everyone"

On other hand, Sonu had signed Manikarnika because he believed in the script, in his role and in director Krrish’s vision. However, the recent turn of events has left the actor upset.

A source close to the actor said, “Sonu who is currently working on Rohit Shetty’s Simmba , was recently asked to reshoot portions for Manikarnika by co-star Kangana Ranaut. With a change in the team, the script and the roles too have undergone changes at the very last minute. Sonu , who is currently sporting a beard for Simmba , has been asked to clean shave for his role in Manikarnika . While the actor was open to shooting a few scenes for the film and work around the clock to accommodate this request, he suggested filming the portions that required him to be clean shaved post his Simmba schedule".

The source added, “Sonu has always been very committed to all his projects and does what is required for his films. He could not accommodate the new dates and redo his look for Manikarnika, as he wasn’t informed about it earlier. While he does understand the issues the makers of Manikarnika are facing, it would be unacceptable for any actor to reshoot portions and new scenes, owing to a change in director, the script and the role at the very last minute.”

When contacted the actor’s spokesperson said, “Sonu has always been a thorough professional and honoured all his commitments. He had informed the makers of Manikarnika about his dates and schedule well in advance. Inconveniencing the team of his current film, to accommodate the demands of another are against his professional principles. Sonu has taken the higher road ahead and wishes the team of Manikarnika all the best."

The film has been scheduled for a Republic Day, 2019 release.