Kangana Ranaut Appeals to Mamata Banerjee for Assistance as ‘The Diary of West Bengal’ Director Sanoj Mishra Goes Missing

News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/22nd August 2024

Bollywood actress and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut has raised alarms over the mysterious disappearance of filmmaker Sanoj Mishra, the director of the controversial film The Diary of West Bengal. In a surprising turn of events, Kangana has publicly requested the help of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in locating the missing director, intensifying concerns over his sudden and unexplained absence.

According to Kangana, Sanoj Mishra went missing after a legal case was filed against him by the West Bengal government. Mishra had traveled to Kolkata on August 14th to attend a court hearing related to the case, but since then, he has been unreachable. His disappearance has left his family, particularly his wife, in a state of deep distress. In a plea for help, Mishra’s wife reached out to Kangana, who has since taken to social media to amplify the call for assistance.

Kangana shared a photograph of Sanoj on her Instagram story, expressing her concern over his disappearance. She recounted that Mishra vanished after the West Bengal government took legal action against him, following the release of the trailer for The Diary of West Bengal. The actress noted that Mishra’s phone has been switched off for over 48 hours, adding to the anxiety surrounding his whereabouts. She urged Mamata Banerjee to intervene and aid in the search for Mishra, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Before his disappearance, Sanoj Mishra had openly expressed his fears for his safety. Just days before he went missing, the filmmaker posted on Instagram, sharing his apprehensions and hinting that he was under considerable pressure. Mishra revealed that he had visited Chitrakoot to seek blessings from Guru Swami Ram Bhadracharya Ji, where a special puja was conducted for him on his birthday. Despite these spiritual efforts, Mishra admitted that he was feeling overwhelmed by the challenges he was facing, particularly the governmental pressures in response to his film.

In his emotional Instagram post, Mishra described feeling broken and deeply troubled by what he perceived as oppressive actions taken against him and his work. He apologized to his friends for not responding to their birthday wishes, explaining that he was consumed by fear and anxiety. Mishra’s ominous words, where he mentioned that anything could happen to him at any time, have now taken on a chilling significance in light of his disappearance.

Mishra’s disappearance has sparked widespread concern, especially among those close to him. Known for directing films that often tackle controversial topics, including Kashi to Kashmir Ghaznavi, Ram Ki Janmabhoomi, and Shashank—a film inspired by the late Sushant Singh Rajput—Mishra’s work on The Diary of West Bengal has attracted significant attention. The film reportedly highlights incidents of violence in Bengal, making it a subject of intense scrutiny.

As the search for Sanoj Mishra continues, his disappearance remains shrouded in mystery. Kangana Ranaut’s public appeal to Mamata Banerjee underscores the urgency of the situation, as concerns grow over the filmmaker’s safety. The case has also sparked a broader conversation about the pressures faced by artists and filmmakers in the face of governmental and societal challenges. The public and Mishra’s loved ones are left hoping for his safe return as efforts to locate him intensify.