'Kangana has an aptitude for direction'

'Kangana thought some extra action scenes were needed and I concurred with her.'
'The film looks so much more spectacular with those war scenes.'

K V Vijayendra Prasad made history when he wrote the Baahubali movies for his son S S Rajamouli.

Now, Vijayendraji has written Kangana Ranaut's new film, Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi,

The film, which releases on January 25, has seen its share of controversies.

Krish, who directed the film, opted out and was replaced by Kangana.

Sonu Sood, who played an important role in the film, opted out too and was replaced by Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.

Prasad discusses the controversies with Subhash K Jha, and says, "Krish has done a wonderful job, but I'd say Kangana has done no less a job than him."

The original director Krish was replaced by Kangana Ranaut.

Krish wasn't asked to go.

The film was started in June 2017 and was supposed to release in August 2018.

But because of the volume of the shooting, the film got delayed.

Krish, who shares a very good relationship with Mr Balakrishna, was committed to direct a film on the life of his (Balakrishna's) father N T Rama Rao, after the original director of that project, Teja, could not do it.

Krish had already done a big hit with Mr Balakrishna, so there was no way we could hold Krish back.

We had to let him go.

Just 10, 15 days of shooting were left...

Kangana shot only 10, 15 days?

That was the original plan. But then Kangana thought some extra action scenes were needed and I concurred with her.

The film looks so much more spectacular with those war scenes.

Kangana just competed the film.

It is being said you are one of the causes for the rift between Kangana and Krish.

(Laughs.) Absolutely not. To my knowledge, there is no rift between Kangana and Krish.

People say you are supportive of Kangana and not Krish in their conflict.

I am supportive of the movie.

I haven't taken sides at all.

Krish has done a wonderful job of shooting the film, but I'd say Kangana has done no less a job than him.

When I saw the rushes, I cannot differentiate between what Krish and Kangana have shot.

But Kangana has no experience in direction while Krish has a whole body of work behind him.

We saw her abilities on the sets and she has made active contribution to many of her films.

Krish could not direct the two biopics simultaneously.

We couldn't get a newcomer to complete our film.

We had the option of waiting for Krish to finish the NTR movie and then take up the shooting of Manikarnika, but this would have meant a further delay.

No other director of repute would have stepped in to complete the film at that late stage.

Kangana has an aptitude for direction, so we chose her.

How did you see that aptitude in her?

From the studio where she was shooting as an actor, from what the producers said.

She was ably assisted by the entire team and she knew what was doing.

No one in recent times has succeeded in making a film on Rani Laxmibai.

Sohrab Modi directed a remarkable film on the Rani in the past.

In recent times, nobody.

We have covered her entire life from birth to death in just two hours.

I must add that I have a personal connection with this movie.

How so?

Manikarnika was the name the Rani of Jhansi was given by her parents.

It was changed after marriage according to Maharashtrian tradition.

My own daughter's name is Manikarnika so I have a special fondness for that name.