Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal, known for his versatile roles, recently shared his apprehensions about portraying the iconic Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in the forthcoming movie ‘Sam Bahadur.’ The revelation came during the trailer launch event held at the Manekshaw Centre in Mumbai.
Kaushal recounted his initial hesitations, admitting that he believed he was not “good looking enough” to undertake the role of the revered military figure. Director Meghna Gulzar had expressed her intent to make a biopic on Manekshaw while working with Kaushal on the 2018 film ‘Raazi.’
During the film’s trailer launch, Kaushal reminisced, “My mother and father are both from Punjab, and through them, I had heard a lot about him. But I didn’t know how he looked. So during that conversation, I secretly Googled him and saw his photo. I said, ‘He is very handsome and I will not get this role.’ But I have to thank Meghna for giving me the role of this handsome person.”
‘Sam Bahadur’ will encapsulate the remarkable 40-year career of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, highlighting his pivotal moments, from World War II service to leading the Indian Army during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
Vicky Kaushal shared that playing the titular role was the most challenging task of his career, not merely because of the way Manekshaw talked and walked but due to the exceptional man that he was. Kaushal expressed that he aimed to portray Manekshaw’s compassionate nature on the big screen. The actor noted that the Field Marshal once said in an interview that he had never punished a soldier throughout his 40-year career, emphasizing the compassion that made him a hero.
The preparation for the role was extensive, involving a focus on both physical aspects and capturing the spirit of the character. Kaushal mentioned that he and Meghna Gulzar spent hours every day for three months reading and researching to understand the essence of Manekshaw’s life.
The film launch event witnessed the presence of Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Vicky Kaushal’s co-actors Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh, director Meghna Gulzar, and producer Ronnie Screwvala.
‘Sam Bahadur’ not only brings to life the extraordinary journey of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw but also marks the reunion of Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh, who made their debut together in the 2015 blockbuster ‘Dangal.’ The film is set to hit theaters on December 1, 2023, and has been highly anticipated for its portrayal of an unsung hero in Indian history.
Sources By Agencies
