Why did Sonu Sood really quit Kangana’s movie?

The battle between actors Sonu Sood and Kangana Ranaut started yesterday, and heated up quickly. Reports emerged that Sonu had quit the period film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, set to release on Jan 25, due to issues with his beard, which he was growing for Rohit Shetty’s Simmba.

For the period film, he was to sport a clean-shaven look. A source close to the actor says, “Sonu was recently asked to reshoot portions for Manikarnika by his co-star Kangana Ranaut. With a change in the team, the script and the roles, too, have undergone changes at the very last minute… While the actor was open to reshooting a few scenes and working round the clock to accommodate this request, he suggested filming the portions that required him to be cleanshaven after his Simmba schedule.” This way, he wouldn’t have to give up his Simmba look.

Earlier yesterday, a statement from Kangana, who is directing parts of the film, said: “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 writers narrated the patchwork to him... he refused to meet me... he vehemently denied to work under a woman director... which is kind of amusing because Sonu is a dear friend... even though the team suggested that they have full faith in me, it seems, Sonu had neither dates nor faith.”

A source from Sonu’s side told Bollywood Hungama earlier in the day: “Yes, Sonu has left the film. He is no longer a part of Manikarnika. And he has informed the film’s producers of his decision. He took a lot of crap from a person who feels she knows how to direct a film without any real qualification to do so. But finally, when Kangana Ranaut officially took over the direction, Sonu could take it no more. He quit the film.”

Our source adds, “Sonu Far left and left: Sonu Sood and his Manikarnika look; Above: Kangana Ranaut couldn’t accommodate the new dates and redo his look for Manikarnika, as he wasn’t informed about this earlier. While he does understand the issues the makers are facing, it would be unacceptable for any actor to reshoot portions and new scenes owing to a change in director, the script and the role at the very last minute.” The source points out that Sonu has earlier worked with a woman director, Farah Khan.

Manikarnika producer Kamal Jain says, “With a heavy heart, we have mutually decided to part ways due to his date unavailability. He is a thorough professional.”

PHOTO: PTI