Luck by chance...

KANGANA RANAUT says it’s stroke of destiny that she plays Rani Laxmibai

She has mostly played flawed characters but actress Kangana Ranaut says she is lucky to finally do a “heroic” role with her portrayal of Rani Laxmibai, the warrior queen of Jhansi. Kangana will essay the titular role in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, to be directed by Krish.

Baahubali writer K Vijayendra Prasad has penned the screenplay for the movie.

The actress, who has been a part of women-oriented films such as

Queen and Tanu Weds Manu, says it is the most exciting character of her career. “The way Vijendra sir has written it and conceived it, it’s very superherolike. Usually, my characters are flawed and human in terms of their abilities. But this one is extraordinary,” Kangana said.

Rani Laxmibai’s presence in popular culture has been limited, except for filmmaker Sohrab Modi’s 1953 film

Jhansi Ki Rani and a TV series that aired between 2009-2011. “When I signed this film my first thought was ‘How come there’s no film on ‘Jhansi ki Rani’ yet?’ I suddenly felt very fortunate that there isn’t any yet. “Because if there was even one film on Rani Laxmibai irrespective of its quality or content, then nobody would have repeated it. So, I consider it a stroke of luck that I’m doing it,” she says.

The film will have grand action sequences and Kangana is doing her best to “match up to her director’s vision.” The film, which will be shot in Varanasi, Maheshwaram, Jhansi and Rajasthan, will release on April 27 next year.

Post this, the actress plans to tr her hands in direction andthe two time National Award winner has confirmed that it will be a comedy.”After Manikarnika, I’m directing my film. It’s going to be a comedy,” Kangana said.