In an interview, the director had said that he is doubtful if anyone would work with Kangana after the Manikarnika row. He said, “I am curious to know who will work with Kangana after the kind of reputation she has acquired for undermining the director and taking over a project.”
I don’t know how Kangana can sleep well by taking the first credit in direction when she does not deserve it,” he said.
When he was asked about how much of his portions Kangana cut from the film, he said, “Difficult to say. But I think Kangana has done 20-25 per cent of the first half. I didn’t shoot a song and I didn’t shoot her entry scene. In the second half, she has even re-shot some scenes which I had done in a different way. But it’s okay now. The film is looking brilliant. I am happy that she didn’t spoil it much.”
Krish said that he was told that Zee Studios, the production house behind the film, hadn’t liked his cut.
“Kangana even told me that Zee Studios hadn’t liked what I had made. It was looking like a Bhojpuri film. I laughed. People know my previous work. We argued but she wanted her own way. I just couldn’t understand,” he said.
Krish also claimed that Kangana wanted Sonu Sood’s character to be killed off in the first half itself which led to big arguments between the actress and him.
“She (Kangana) said Sonu is not required in the second half. But I put my foot down. Big arguments followed. Kamal Jain (one of the film’s producers) took Kangana’s side,”
Director Krish has expressed his anger at her claims that she directed 70% of the film. Kangana’s sister Rangoli rushed to her defence and blasted Krish in a series of tweets, saying that Kangana had begged him to take credit for the film and that Krish had “done everything to ruin Manikarnika.” Rangoli also said that Kangana was in Germany and was very disturbed with “the conspiracy theories” surrounding her. She shared screenshots from Kangana’s personal chats with writer Vijayendra Prasad and Krish.
Krish responded to the hate tweets. He said, “Kangana is lying. Clearly, if you look at the messages she sent to Vijayendra and still stored them, seems that there was a plan in her mind to take over and present these later in her defence. So, that it doesn’t look like an after-thought.”
He added that he was just sick and tired of the whole episode. “Kangana and I are both not going away from this industry so soon. I will direct many more films in future and so will she. People will know who stands where. I am sick and tired, of Kangana and the whole controversy.”
In his earlier interview, Krish had claimed that he finished editing the entire film in June and everyone even finished dubbing for their parts, with the exception of Kangana, who was shooting for Mental Hai Kya in London at the time.
“She returned, saw the film and said that she liked it. She however added that she had few small concerns. After few days, she said that iska jyaada hai, uska jyaada hai, this girl is overpowering, that girl is overpowering. Then she came up with yeh change karna hai, woh change karna hai. She also said that Kamal Jain (producer) hadn’t liked the film,” Krish revealed.
Krish slammed Kangana for her rude behaviour said that she tried to convince him that Zee Studios did not like what he had made at all and that “it was looking like a Bhojpuri film”. “I laughed. People know my previous work. We argued but she wanted her own way. I just couldn’t understand,” he said, adding, “She is rude all the time.”
Krish said that his identity was changed in the credits of Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. “The first poster which bore the date, had my name. Then came the teaser, which had my name but not as Krish which I am known as in the industry including in the credit titles of my previous films. I was given a new name – Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi – which I never use,” he said.
In fact, when he tried getting this rectified, Kangana told him off. “When I spoke to them about the distortion of my name in the teaser, Kangana told me ‘You didn’t support me in the Sonu Sood episode. Aapko abhi zaroorat hai toh aaye ho.’ She told me I have anger management issues (laughs), but it was she who was shouting at me. And now after seeing the film, I see my name again distorted and now in a separate slide!” he revealed.
