'Manikarnika' controversy: Kangana Ranaut-Sonu Sood fall out, Zeeshan Ayyub steps in - Here's the full scoop

Over a year ago, the announcement of Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi created quite a buzz. After all, Kangana Ranaut was playing Rani Laxmibai and Sonu Sood was essaying a Maratha, Sadashivrao, in this period drama, which was being helmed by Krish and presented by Zee Studios. However, the latest news is that Sonu has opted out due to unavailability of early dates for some patchwork scenes.

According to a source, “Sonu is currently sporting a beard for Rohit Shetty’s Simmba and another South Indian project, while he sported only a moustachioed look for Manikarnika. Since we can’t wait for him to finish those films and then do our patch-work scenes, he graciously opted out as we need to complete the shoot at the earliest.” The source further added that Zeeshan Ayyub, who has worked with Kangana in Tanu Weds Manu Returns, has been roped in for the part.

Incidentally, after Sonu’s exit, reports have been rife that he and Kangana had a showdown after he declined to work with her as director for the patchwork scenes. 

While the actress confirms him opting out of the film, she refutes the showdown, countering, “Sonu and I haven’t even met since the last shot with Krish (director) last year. He is busy filming Simmba. He couldn’t even give us tentative dates to match combinations with other actors. The producers showed him the film and the writers narrated the patchwork to him. He refused to meet me and vehemently denied to work under a woman director, which is kind of amusing because Sonu is a dear friend and I have even launched the music of a film, which he produced, on his request. Even though the team suggested that they have full faith in me, it seems he neither had dates nor faith.” She added, “When I last spoke to him, he suggested that I can go ahead with someone else. As soon as I narrated the script to Zeeshan,  Sonu called the studio and gave the dates. By that time, it was too late as Zeeshan had committed his dates to me for September. Now, I hear I had a showdown with him. When I never met him, never directed him, when did I have this showdown?” On his part, Sonu maintained, “The question of me having any reservations of working with a woman director doesn’t arise because I have worked with Farah Khan on Happy New Year and we’ve been good friends since then.” Producer Kamal Jain said, “Our team is dedicated to finish the patchwork shoot to complete the film on time. The post production and VFX is going on in full swing along with the patch shoot. Sonu is a thorough professional and has his dates committed to Simmba.”