Kangana Ranaut on Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi clash with Thackeray — No pressure to shift release date

Kangana Ranaut’s ambitious biopic on Rani Lakshmibai seems to be under no pressure to shift its release date from the one on which Thackeray releases. Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi  is scheduled to release on 25 January. The release of Thackeray  on the same date is not bothering the actress at all and Ranaut stated that no one approached her or pressurised the crew to push the release date. [caption id=“attachment_5870011” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Stills from Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (left) and Thackeray. YouTube screengrab[/caption] Thackeray, based on Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb, deterred the release of another film scheduled for the same date. Cheat India , featuring Emraan Hashmi, pulled ahead its release date to 18 January to avoid a clash at the box office. Considering the fact that late politician Balasaheb Thackeray, on whose life the film is based, had a strong hold in the state of Maharashtra, many film business analysts feel Thackeray may make a clean sweep at the theatres. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the lead in Thackeray. However, Ranaut seems confident of her product. “No one even approached us. So, we are very happy that we have a sort of a big window. There is a vacation around,” the actress added. Ranaut not only features in the lead, but has also directed portions of Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi after former director Krish quit the project.