Kangana Ranaut has fun directing films

MUMBAI: Kangana Ranaut, who took over the reins as director of her forthcoming film ‘Manikarnika – The Queen of Jhansi’, says directing a film is like leading a worker’s life, but she had fun while she was at it.

Kangana interacted with the media at the trailer launch of ‘Manikarnika – The Queen of Jhansi’ along with her co-actors Ankita Lokhande, Mishti and Suresh Oberoi, as well as producer Kamal Jain, writer K.V. Vijayendra Prasad and music composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

The ‘Queen’ star stepped into the film’s original director ‘Krish’s’ shoes after he departed from the project due to what has been blamed on scheduling conflicts and creative differences.

Touching upon rumors about taking over the film, Kangana said, “It was not the time to clarify things, but the team was so warm that I felt confident. As a first time director, I feel like the luckiest person to have this team.” Taking the lead to share her experience working on the film, she said she got 20 stitches on her forehead on the very first day.

Asked whether she wants to pursue direction in the future as well, she said: “I was telling my sister yesterday, I don’t know what it is about me that I really love working as a technician as no actor wants to be out in the sun as opposed to being in the air conditioned van.

“No actor wants to be sweaty where 80 people are asking you like 100 questions. No actor wants to do recce of locations when you can simply be in your luxury suite. I don’t know what it is about me that I am so comfortable in this job that there is nothing more that I love than directing, even though I don’t get to wear make-up and I don’t get any special treatment.”

She added: “It is absolutely a worker’s life to be honest but there was something so amazing about this job. I don’t know why people consider it a job. It is just so much fun. I think acting is more like a job but directing is just like having fun. I hope I get more chances to do this and I hope I continue doing this because this seems like my first love.”