Soon after
bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut took to her social media to announce the next
part of her ‘Manikarnika’ franchise titled ‘Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of
Didda’, Ashish Kaul, who authored the book Didda – Kashmir Ki Yodha Rani, accused
her of violating his rights.

Ashish, who claims to have sole rights to the story, told TOI in an interview that they approached Kangana to write the foreword for the Hindi version of his book in
September last year but neither the actor nor her sister, Rangoli Chandel, who
was also her manager at the time, showed any interest in his proposal.

However,
months after, they to announced a film on the same subject.  

“Is it believable by any stretch of imagination that a story and a book is being usurped by a renowned actor-turned-social activist? She has blatantly violated my sole rights; it is illegal and an absolute violation of the IPR and copyright laws of the same country that she swears by. I find it so brazen and hideous and I am still inclined to believe that Kangana has been misguided,” TOI quoted him as saying.

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Ashish further revealed that but it is also revealed that the author is already in talks with another filmmaker for a film adaptation of his book. 

Kaul however is unsure if the infringement is an unintentional mistake or a well aware intellectual fraud by Kangana.

Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut, who is reportedly playing the titular role in the film is yet to respond to the allegations.

Based on the chronicles of ‘Didda’, also called the Cleopatra of Kashmir, Kangana starer Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda will be produced by filmmaker Kamal Jain.

Queen Didda is said to have ruled the valley for around five decades between the 10th and 11th centuries.