Actress Kangana Ranaut yesterday, announced the sequel of her 2019 film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. The new project is titled Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda. Now, hours after her announcement, the actress has been accused of plagiarism and violation of rights by the author of the book ‘Didda-Kashmir Ki Yodha Rani.' Ashish Kaul who penned the book said he was surprised by the announcement. As per a report by TOI, Kaul had approached Kangana earlier to write a foreword for the Hindi version of the book and sent an email regarding this to her on September 11, 2020. He also stated that the entire life story of the queen was also appended in the same. However, Ashish Kaul is yet to get a reply from the actress or her sister regarding the same. While talking to TOI, he said, “Is it believable by any stretch of imagination that a story and a book is being usurped by a renowned actor-turned-social activist?”
Kaul further adds, “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.” Not only that but it is also revealed that the author is in talks with another filmmaker for a film adaptation of his book. 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 # Kaul wrote on the micro-blogging site. Kangana is yet to respond towards the allegations. The first film in the Manikarnika franchise, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, based on the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai, starred Kangana Ranaut, Atul Kulkarni, Ankita Lokhande, Jisshu Sengupta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Vaibhav Tatwawaadi. Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi and Kangana jointly shared the direction credits.