Kangana Ranaut to star in Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s kabaddi drama, begins prep

After wrapping Mental Hai Kya and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Kangana Ranaut will play a kabaddi player in Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s sports drama.

Kangana Ranaut has settled on her next project, to be made after she concludes work on her lavish Jhansi ki Rani film, Manikarnika and the dark comedy, Mental Hai Kya. Kangana will star as a kabaddi player in director Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s sports drama.

Kangana Ranaut at an event in Mumbai. (IANS)

According to a source, “Kangana’s Mental Hai Kya wraps up on July 11,” after which the actor “will immediately fly back to Mumbai and complete some patch work (on) Manikarnika.” Besides a few days for a brand shoot, most of her August will be occupied with pre-production work on the kabaddi movie.

Ashwini, who has previously directed the critically acclaimed Nil Battey Sannata and Bareilly Ki Barfi, is currently scouting for a coach for Kangana. The director is said to be screening national-level kabaddi players to train Kangana, who has already started preparing by undergoing yoga training.

Kangana Ranaut during the launch of fashion designer Neeta Lulla's store, in New Delhi. (IANS)

“The prep will see her learning different kinds of holds and kicks. Learning the crocodile hold and wrist catch will be crucial. She will also need to undergo a change in terms of her physique,” the source continued.

Mental Hai Kya is scheduled for a 2018 release. Kangana will be seen opposite Rajkummar Rao in the film, produced by Ekta Kapoor. Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, meanwhile, has been tentatively slated for an August release.

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