Behind Kangana Ranaut’s Indira Gandhi look in 'Emergency': How Oscar-winner David Malinowski worked his magic

In a climate where image is everything, Bollywood's queen Kangana Ranaut has cast her vote for substance over style. The actor, known for her no-holds-barred approach both on and off screen, revealed that she sat through grueling two to three-hour prosthetic sessions for her upcoming film 'Emergency'. Compelling history buffs to dust off their history books, the political drama promises to depict one of the most controversial chapters of Indian democracy - the Emergency of 1975 under Indira Gandhi's premiership and embodying her was a challenge that Kangana embraced wholeheartedly.

Her transformation into the Iron Lady of India has sparked nationwide chatter, with her grey-haired, hooked nose and wrinkled jowls, leaving the public and critics intrigued. Authenticity was non-negotiable for the actor-director, and Ranaut nailed it by collaborating with Oscar-winning makeup artist David Malinowski, renowned for transforming Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill in 'The Darkest Hour'. In an industry often criticized for dynasty politics, Ranaut champions meritocracy, proving that talent trumps lineage under her watch. The trailer offers glimpses of Ranaut's uncanny resemblance to Indira Gandhi, and her impeccable portrayal of the late Prime Minister's mannerisms has ignited discussions about this performance potentially earning her a fifth National Award. It seems that in the court of public opinion, Kangana has already won a landslide victory for her commitment to the craft.

In a recent interview, while talking about transformation, Kangana said, "Prosthetics took two to three hours. We have the best prosthetics artist in the world - David (Milnowski), who transformed Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill for the film 'The Darkest Hour'. He got an Oscar for his prosthetics. When you work with the best it shows in the result."

Written and directed by Kangana Ranaut, ‘Emergency’ stars her and also features Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles. Produced by Zee Studios and Manikarnika Films, the film’s music is orchestrated by Sanchit Balhara and G V Prakash Kumar with screenplay and dialogues by Ritesh Shah. The film is slated for a theatrical release on the 6th of September 2024.