Kangana Ranaut did not have any movie releases in 2018. However, she has 5 or more upcoming film projects, two of which are definitely releasing in 2019.
- Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
This is a biopic based on the life of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. Shooting for the film commenced in May 2017. From the very beginning the movie has been dogged with controversies and delays. Director Krish left midway and subsequently Kangana took over the job and finished directing the project. It is also rumored that she re-shot some of the portions directed by Krish. Actor Sonu Sood also left the movie after Krish due to date problems, but Kangana alleged that Sood left as he did not want to work under a female director.
Shooting finished in late 2018 and the trailer of the film was released on Dec 18, 2018. The movie is scheduled to release on Jan 25, 2018 and will thus clash with the release of another biopic film ‘Thackeray’, which the makers of Thackeray did not want. Kangana has stated that the producers of Thackeray have not approached her for a change of release date. She further clarified that there is enough scope during the holiday season for both films to do well.
Manikarnika is produced Zee Studios along with Nishant Pitti and Kamal Jain. It also stars Ankita Lokhande in a key role. The film was made on a big budget of around INR 125 crores. After the failures of the last two ventures of Ranaut, i.e., Rangoon and Simran, it is hoped that Manikarnika will turn the tide for her.
- Mental Hai Kya
It is a thriller drama black comedy film co-starring Kangana and Rajkummar Rao in the main leads. Amyra Dastur will essay the role of the wife of Rao. Jimmy Sheirgill and Shaheer Sheikh will be seen in supporting roles. Kanika Dhillon has written the screenplay, Prakash Kovelamudi is the director, and Ekta Kapoor is the producer of the movie. The film is set across 4 years, ie., 1947, 1971, 1993, and 2015. Shooting for Mental Hai Kya started on May 16, 2018. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 29, 2019.
- Panga
It is a sports drama directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari. Kangana will portray the role of a Kabbadi player in the film. She will do yoga and undergo specialized training to prep for the role. Other co-stars in the movie include Richa Chadha, Jassi Gill, Pankaj Tripathi, and Neena Gupta. The film is being produced by Fox Star Studios and the release date is tentatively set for 2019.
- Imali
Kangana has committed to play the lead in the romance film Imali. It will be directed by Anurag Basu and will mark the 3rd collaboration between the two. Nothing else has been finalized about the movie.
- Teju
Kangana will undergo radical transformation and play the role of an 80 year old woman in this film. She is also slated to direct the comedy drama movie. Paramhans Films is producing the film.
- Divine Lovers
Divine Lovers is an Indo-French film production venture and the first one in Bollywood. The romantic drama will feature Ranaut and Irrfan Khan in the lead roles. Leonard Glowinski and Shailesh R Singh are in supporting roles. The story is set in heartland India and is based on the lives of people from the lower middle class strata of the society. Sai Kabir is the director. The film has been delayed and there is no information about the release date.
- Untitled film by R Balki
This movie will bring together Kangana and Amitabh Bachchan together for the first time on celluloid. The release date of this drama film has not been finalized.
