Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, known for her acting prowess, announced her upcoming film ‘Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda’ on Thursday (January 14). The ‘Panga’ actress shared a post on social media to inform her fans that she would be essaying the role of Queen Didda in the period drama, which is the second installment of the ‘Manikarnika’ franchise.
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Ashish Kaul, who is the author of the book ‘Didda-Kashmir Ki Yodha Rani’, has accused the ‘Queen’ star of plagiarism and violating his sole rights. Kaul, while talking to a leading daily, said that he approached the actress to write a foreword for the Hindi version of his book in September 2020. He added that he didn’t received any response from Kangana or her sister Rangoli Chandel in this regard.
Kaul said that he has the exclusive copyrights for the life story of Queen Didda. He added that he in talks with another producer for the film adaptation of his book.
“She has blatantly violated my sole rights; it is illegal and an absolute violation of the IPR and copyright laws of the same country that she swears by. I find it so brazen and hideous and I am still inclined to believe that Kangana has been misguided,” Ashish Kaul told Times Of India.
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The author also shared a post on Twitter to express his displeasure over the announcement of a film based on the life of Queen Didda.
“So, the stars take plagiarism to a brazen new high. If this can happen to a copyright story, national bestseller, sole legitimate & globally praised story by all news media - imagine what fairly new comers must be going thru #DiddaTheWarriorQueenOfKashmir,” Kaul wrote on the micro-blogging site.
Kangana is yet to react to the allegations. The National Film Award winning actress remained in headlines in the second half of 2020. From calling out the Bollywood biggies to locking horns with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, the Pahadi beauty grabbed several eyeballs with her statements on social media.
On the professional front, Kangana will be next seen in ‘Thalaivi’. The movie was slated to hit the silver screens in June 2020; however, it got delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis. She also has ‘Tejas’ and ‘Dhaakad’ in her kitty.