Protests organised by
British Sikh groups
disrupted the screening of Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency at several cinemas across the UK during its opening weekend. The Sikh Press Association (Sikh PA) claimed the film is perceived as “anti-Sikh,” leading to cancelled screenings in cities such as Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.
Insight UK, a community organisation, shared a video on social media showing protesters interrupting a screening at a cinema in Harrow, north-west London. “Pro-Khalistan extremists storm Harrow cinema and attempt to stop the screening of ‘Emergency’,” the group posted on X.
Sikh PA had earlier released a statement condemning the movie, which portrays the Emergency period in India during the 1970s under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “UK Sikhs are protesting at cinemas across the UK regarding today’s release of the film Emergency, a biopic of former India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi considered anti-Sikh propaganda,” the statement read.
The group further accused Ranaut of spreading “bigoted rhetoric” against the Sikh-Punjabi community, stating: “Indira Gandhi was the PM who initiated the #SikhGenocide before her assassination.”
Ranaut responded to the controversy on social media, expressing both gratitude and disappointment over the film’s reception. Speaking in Hindi, she said: “On behalf of Zee Studio, Manikarnika Film, and all the members of Ease My Trip, I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You all gave so much love and respect to our film. We don’t even have words to express our gratitude.
“But, I still have some pain in my heart. Punjab. In the industry, it was said that my films perform the best in Punjab. And today is a day when my film is not even allowed to be released in Punjab.
“In the same way, some attacks are being carried out on people in Canada and Britain. Some people, some small-minded people have set this country on fire. And you and I are burning in this fire.”
Despite the protests, the filmmakers have reported a strong box office performance for Emergency, claiming it earned Rs 12.26 crore over its first weekend.
