Manikarnika producer Kamal Jain backs Kangana

There seems to be no end to the buzz and controversy surrounding Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, starring Kangana Ranaut. There has been much mudslinging and exchange of heated words. Director Krish Jagarlmudi has expressed his anger at Kangana's claims that she directed 70% of the film. In Kangana's version, she had come on board as she 'could not desert a sinking ship', as Krish had to leave to direct another film.

Producer Kamal Jain has backed Kangana and told a portal "It's very sad how Krish is trying to claim credit for what he doesn't deserve, it was mine and studio's collective decision to give credits the way they are and to attack Kangana who stood by the film from beginning to end is very sad."

He added that Kangana could not have taken decisions without the production and creative team's nod. "Whatever she did she could have not done without production and creative team's consent, for Krish, he's making it a media trial specifically after huge critical claim and box office success. This is a clear attempt to harm our film. Why doesn't he go legal way if he is speaking the truth and prove his claims, we tried to handle this matter on every level nothing was done without informing him, its sad he chose to create this controversy at the stage."

Kangana's sister Rangoli had rushed to her defence when Krish had accused her of taking the credit of directing the film. She had shown screenshots of chats with writer Vijayendra Prasad, where Kangana apparently 'begged' Krish to take credit for the film.

Vijayendra said, "Manikarnika is close to me, as it's named after my daughter. So, any controversy [around it] is not a happy thing for me. I hope the controversy dies a natural death, and the movie enjoys a good run. Both Krish and Kangana have worked equally hard on the film. If Krish has done a good job, so has Kangana.

Krish had claimed that the chats to Vijayendra were orchestrated. "Kangana is lying. Clearly, if you look at the messages she sent to Vijayendra and still stored them, seems that there was a plan in her mind to take over and present these later in her defence. So, that it doesn't look like an after-thought," he had said.

In his earlier interview, Krish had slammed Kangana for her rude behaviour said that she tried to convince him that Zee Studios did not like what he had made at all and that "it was looking like a Bhojpuri film". "I laughed. People know my previous work. We argued but she wanted her own way. I just couldn't understand," he said, adding, "She is rude all the time."

Krish said that his identity was changed in the credits of Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. "The first poster which bore the date, had my name. Then came the teaser, which had my name but not as Krish which I am known as in the industry including in the credit titles of my previous films. I was given a new name - Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi - which I never use," he said.