Speaking about roping in Anupam Kher,Kangana Ranaut said in a statement, “J P Narayan was the most powerful human being to have happened after Mahatma Gandhi in politics in recent Indian history. The kind of influence he had on people was enormous. I wanted an actor who had the personality and calibre to match up to that larger than life persona of Lok Neta, J P Narayan. Anupam ji with his stature, his acting skills, his overall persona fit into the role perfectly.I am privileged and humbled that he chose my script. I am nobody to choose him. He chose my script and I am honoured, to say the least.”
While Anupam Kher added, “Kangana’s interpretation of J P Narayan is fascinating. She believes and it’s also the truth that J P Narayan is a hero of the film not just because I am playing the character also because that’s what he was. Her treatment of the character is like that of a hero. As far as essaying the role is concerned, even though I did my own research, Kangana made my job easy by providing me with her interpretation and the homework that she had done. That’s why it was easy to step into the shoes of J P Narayan. When you have a director, who knows his or her job, it becomes easy for an actor to follow those instructions and perform. Of course, there is hard work that goes into it but I am very happy that I am essaying the role of a historical figure who changed the scenario of independent India.”
Kangana will call the shots for ‘Emergency’, whose screenplay and dialogues are by Ritesh Shah. This political saga will focus on the emergency declared in India between 1975 to 1977.
