For actress Kangana Ranaut, who is bringing Rani Laxmibai's story to the big screen with Manikarnika, her female co-stars are crucial to the biopic. A firm believer of women power, she says people need to stop suppressing them. For Kangana, it is the courageous streak of the freedom fighter that resonated with her.

She said in a statement: "Growing up, I was considered a child hero, absolutely sensitive and obedient but when I felt I needed to break free I just took off. No one from the family was allowed to speak to me but my mother would hide and call me and softly ask what did you eat? No other questions.