Given how war plays an integral role in the narrative of Rani Laxmibai, it was imperative that the stunts in Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi be choreographed by someone who had an innate understanding of action.

After seeing his work in Gladiator (2000) and Tom Cruise starrer The Last Samurai (2003), Kangana Ranaut and producer Kamal Jain knew international action choreographer Nick Powell would be the perfect fit for the job. Talking to mid-day about his first Bollywood project, Powell says he designed the sequences in keeping with the 19th century setting of the biopic.