protests organized by British Sikh groups interrupted the screening of Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency in several cinemas across the UK during its opening weekend. The Sikh Press Association (Sikh PA) claimed that the film was perceived as “anti-Sikh”, leading to the cancellation of 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 disrupting a screening at a cinema in Harrow, north-west London. “Pro-Khalistan extremists storm Harrow cinema and try to stop ‘Emergency’ screening,” the group posted on X.
The Sikh Palestinian Authority had earlier issued a statement condemning the film, which portrays the period of Emergency in India during the 1970s under the government of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “UK Sikhs are protesting in cinemas across the UK over the release of the film today. Emergencya biopic of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, considered anti-Sikh propaganda,” the statement read.
The group further accused Ranaut of spreading “intolerant rhetoric” against the Sikh-Punjabi community, stating: “Indira Gandhi was the prime minister who started the #SikhGenocide before her assassination.”
Ranaut responded to the controversy on social media, expressing both gratitude and disappointment at the film’s reception. Speaking in Hindi, he 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 is said that my films work better in Punjab. And today is a day when even my film is not allowed to release in Punjab.
“In the same way, some attacks are being carried out against people in Canada and Britain. Some people, some narrow-minded people have set this country on fire. And you and I are burning in this fire.”
Despite the protests, the filmmakers have reported good performance at the box office for Emergencyclaiming that it earned Rs 12.26 million during its first weekend.