Kangana Ranaut turns director for Aparajitha Ayodhya, says it is a story of divinity

After helming Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Kangana Ranaut has worn the hat of a director for Aparajitha Ayodhya, which revolves around the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir dispute.

Kangana, who believes that the concept “is not controversial,” mentioned that she did not have plans to direct the film but eventually she felt that she should take up the role of both director and producer.

“The plan wasn’t for me to direct the film. I started it as a project that I worked on from the concept level. I wanted to produce it and rope in another director for it. I was quite busy at that time to even think of direction. However, the script that KV Vijayendra Prasad shared was that of a film set on a large canvas, somewhat on the lines of the historical that I have directed before. My collaborating partners were also keen that I direct it. Eventually, even I felt that maybe it’s best if I helm this film. So, it all happened organically,” she said in a statement.

Talking about the pressure of directing the film, Kangana said, “It does not make me nervous. It’s tougher when you have to carry forward someone else’s vision and find your own vision somewhere in it. In this case, I have worked on this film from scratch, and it’s gratifying and simple once you have the clarity of thought.”

Kangana mentioned that the film is a story of “love, faith and unity, and above everything, it’s a story of divinity.” She also said that she might not star in the film as she wants to focus on being the director.

The film is being written by Baahubali fame KV Vijayendra Prasad, who had previously collaborated with Kangana for Manikarnika.

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Michael B Jordan calls on Hollywood to ‘commit to black hiring’

Actor Michael B Jordan has called on Hollywood studios, agencies and industry insiders to “invest in black staff”.

During a protest against systemic racism and police brutality organised by the Big 4 agencies in the wake of George Floyd’s death, the Creed star asked the people in the movie business to commit to hiring more black people.

“You committed to a 50/50 gender parity in 2020. Where is the challenge to commit to black hiring? Black content led by black executives, black consultants. Are you policing our storytelling as well? Let us bring our darkness to the light,” Jordan said while addressing the crowd.

The actor, who played Oscar Grant, an African American man killed by a police officer in the 2013 film Fruitvale Station, said the role made him feel the pain of racial abuse victims.

“I lived with that for a very long time and it weighs on me. Producing that movie made me really realise the lengths that the government and oppressors will go to keep knowledge out of your hands,” he said of the film.

Jordan said when he played attorney Bryan Stevenson in Just Mercy, he understood the importance of being calm and closer to the issue. The actor produced the legal drama, also starring Jamie Foxx.

“I learned his tactics. I learned his mentality. I learned his approach to things. Very calm. Very strategic. Very thoughtful. You have to be proximal. You have to be close to (the) issues,” he added.

Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man died on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in an encounter caught on video. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with murder and manslaughter.

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