Actress Angers Doctors

Kangana Ranaut who is known for her bold performances recently showed her power in Manikarnika-The Queen of Jhansi, a biopic on freedom fighter Jhansi Lakshmi Bai. Now her latest film titled crazily as Mental Hai Kyaa is slated for a grand release on June 21. Mental Hai Kyaa marks the debut of Ragavendra Rao's son Prakash Kovelamudi in Bollywood and the film deals with mental illness and hallucinations.

The filmmakers released the new poster which showed Kangana and Rajkumar Rao balancing a razor on the tip of their tongues and it attracted severe backlash. Now doctors are questioning Kangana's Mental Hai Kyaa title. A netizen questioned saying, “@SmritiSawhney Precisely the gripe I had even with the title #MentalHaiKya. The poster does not help the cause either. The layperson would not be able to differentiate between ‘mentally ill’ and ‘Mental’. Those with #mentalillness are often called ‘mental’ in a derogatory way (sic).”

Producer Ekta Kapoor is unavailable for comment and a source close to Ekta says, “Mental Hai Kya is a half-joking reference to someone who does outrageous things. Kangana and Rajkummar play two individuals who are constantly walking, talking and dancing on the edge.” 

Earlier Salman Khan too faced similar opposition when his filmmakers tried to name his film as Mental. Dr Naresh Vadlamani, chief consultant psychiatrist, Columbus Hospital, Begumpet MD Hon. Zonal Secretary, Indian Psychiatric Society — South Zonal Branch ,  Dr Sameer Parekh, director, department of mental health and behavioral sciences, chairperson, Fortis National Mental Health Council, Dr Bharatkumar Reddy, Consultant Psychiatrist, Apollo Hospital, Hyderguda objected to use of such titles. 

The Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) has written a letter to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) objecting to numerous issues alleging the makers violated the sections of Mental health Care Act, 2017.