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Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency, her highly anticipated solo directorial debut, is set to hit theatres on January 17, 2025.

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency will release on January 17, 2025. The political thriller, exploring Indira Gandhi’s emergency period, faced delays and controversies but is now set for a theatrical debut.
Kangana Ranaut’s much-anticipated solo directorial debut, Emergency, has finally locked in a new release date after multiple delays and controversies. The actor-turned-filmmaker, who also plays the lead role in the period political thriller, recently took to social media to announce when audiences can expect to see her ambitious project hit the big screens.
Sharing a new poster on Monday morning, Kangana unveiled the cast and the new release date. The poster features her as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, along with Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi, Anupam Kher as Jai Prakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Milind Soman as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
Kangana captioned the post: “17th January 2025 – The epic saga of the nation’s most powerful woman and the moment that altered India’s destiny. #Emergency – Unveils Only in cinemas on 17.01.2025!” The chosen release date strategically precedes Republic Day, although Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force is already slated for the Republic Day weekend.
The journey of Emergency has not been without hurdles. The film has faced backlash from Sikh groups and encountered significant roadblocks, including the withdrawal of its certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). This forced the postponement of its original September 5 release date.
Reflecting on the delay, Kangana had told ANI, “I know how I made this film. I did not get any support from the film industry. It’s made on a huge budget. I, along with Zee and other partners, created Emergency, and now with the release delay, everyone is bearing a huge loss. Delay release is a loss for all. I think the Censor Board should take the responsibility to release this film at the earliest.”
The biographical thriller explores a pivotal chapter in Indian history, focusing on Indira Gandhi’s controversial 21-month emergency period from 1975 to 1977. The film, co-produced by Zee Studios and Kangana’s Manikarnika Films, also marks her second directorial venture following the 2019 historical drama Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi.