Manikarnika box office collection Day 1: Kangana Ranaut film opens with a bang

Directed by Kangana Ranaut and Krish Jagarlamudi, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi features the actress as Rani Laxmibai. The historical drama took off to a fantastic start at the box office.

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Kangana Ranaut in Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi
Kangana Ranaut in Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi

One of the most talked-about films of the year, Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi, has taken off to a fantastic start at the box office. The historical drama, which released in 3000 screens across the country, has earned Rs 8.75 crore on its opening day.

India Today critic Lakshana Palat gave it 3 out of 5 stars. "Sadly, the 148-minute Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, which is a collaborative effort from directors Kangana Ranaut and Krish Jagarlamudi, fails to give Laxmibai's character some substance and more shades. What Manikarnika turns out to be is thus something straight out of a Class-8 history textbook; at points, even an Amar Chitra tale," she wrote in her review.

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Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi revolves around Rani Laxmibai, who fought against the East India Company and the British to prevent her kingdom of Jhansi from being usurped. The film marked the big screen debut of television actress Ankita Lokhande, who was seen playing Jhalkaribai, a solider who rose through the ranks in Rani Laxmibai's army to become a prominent advisor.

It also marked Kangana's foray into direction, which she found an extremely fulfilling experience. "It may sound strange, but I have never really identified with being an actress. It's not my calling, direction is," she said.

"It's actually surprising even to me how comfortable I feel being a director on set, even when I am sweating buckets and am surrounded by 500 people and everyone's screaming at the same time! There's something about directing a film that's so gratifying," she added.

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