Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Monday won the National Award for 'Best Actress', adding another feather to her cap. The star bagged the honour for her work in the 2019 release Manikarnika and the sports drama Panga, which hit the screens last year. She had previously won National Awards for her performance in Queen, Fashion and the romantic-comedy Tanu Weds Manu Returns.
Manikarnika was a period drama that revolved around the life of the 'Jhansi ki Rani' and featured Kangana in a massy new avatar. It made a decent impact at the box office despite receiving mixed reviews reviews. The film was supposed to be directed by Gabbar is Back helmer Krish but he opted out. Kangana subsequently decided to wield the microphone for the biggie.
Panga, on the other hand, was directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and highlighted the journey of a forgotten kabbadi star. The cast included Richa Chadha and Neena Gupta. It received rave reviews but proved to be a commercial failure.
Kangana, meanwhile, is gearing up for the release of Thalaivi, a film based on the life of the late and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. It touches upon Amma's contribution to the film industry while highlighting her rise as a mass leader. Director Vijay's magnum opus has a star-studded cast that includes Arvind Swami and Prakash Raj. The Roja actor plays the iconic MGR in the biggie while the Balupu star essays the role of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta was offered a role in Thalaivi but turned down the role due to 'prior commitments'. The film is slated to hit the screens later this year.
Kangana also has Dhaakad, directed by Razneesh Ghai, in her kitty. The actioner features the powerhouse performer in a bold new avatar, which has piqued the curiosity of the masses, and is expected to release in October. The cast includes Arjun Rampal and Divya Dutta.