These Years Have Impacted Me Financially, Mentally: Hansal Mehta on Fallout With Kangana Ranaut

As the controversy over Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika, where the film’s original director Krish has claimed that the actress seized the project by taking first credit in direction when she "didn’t deserve it", mounts, filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who was mired in a similar controversy in 2017, has broken his silence.

Hansal opened up about his decision of maintaining a stoic silence on Apurva Asrani and Kangana Ranaut's tussle over the writing credits in Simran. In a lengthy post on Twitter, the director said that the past two years have "impacted me financially, mentally and physically."

"Many people keep dragging me into the controversies around Kangana Ranaut that seem to erupt from time to time. For the last time - Simran is a closed chapter as far as I am concerned. The details of what really transpired during the film will remain a closed chapter as far as I am concerned. The details of what really transpired during the film will remain a painful chapter of my life that might find their way in a memoir pleasure on social media. I chose to remain silent before the film released because there was no way I could sabotage a film that had the efforts of so many people at stake. I chose to remain silent after the release because I was relieved that the film was finally out and I did not want to re-live what I had endured. I had to move on for my own sanity. The past two years have been difficult, very difficult. These years have impacted me financially, mentally and physically. I am dealing with my losses in the most constructive manner possible and in the only way I know - by moving on, by living a fuller life, by working doubly hard and by steering clear of people whose presence in my personal and professional life could be toxic. To each his own. A prayer for peace and happiness to all. Heartfelt gratitude to family, friends and colleagues for always being there. And a special thank you to those who revel in calling me names - the attention you give me indeed flattering," read Hansal's post.

Meanwhile, Apurva launched a fresh attack on Kangana by calling her an "insecure" and claimed, just like Manikarnika, she made Simran all about her, too, by "deleting" other actors lines".

In an interview with SpotboyE, director Krish also said that he didn't know "how Kangana can sleep well by taking the first credit in direction (in Manikarnika) when she does not deserve it."

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.”

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