The first look of Uri actor Vicky Kaushal from Sardar Udham Singh, a biopic on the legendary freedom fighter, is out shows him on the streets of St Petersburg.
The actor sports a suave hairstyle and a wound mark on his right cheek and can be seen dressed in an overcoat. Vintage cars and a Russian woman can also be seen in the frame.
Sardar Udham Singh is being directed by Shoojit Sircar and has been written by Ritesh Shah and Shubendu Bhattacharya. Earlier, actor Irrfan Khan was chosen to play the lead role but had to be replaced by Vicky after he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour and couldn’t return for an action role.
I kept telling @ShoojitSircar and @ronnielahiri I can be quite good at playing Udham Singh! But now that they have found @vickykaushal09 I think he will do a decent job 😜
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) April 30, 2019
For all the favourites in one team I’m gonna wait for this 🤗 https://t.co/kezyUER7t8
In a recent interview to Mumbai Mirror, Shoojit said about casting Vicky Kaushal, “There’s a burning intensity and anger that I saw in his eyes during our first meeting itself, that convinced me he was the one right man to play Udham.”
He added, “The film is based on Udham Singh’s life, particularly one event which we had already researched. Since Vicky is from Punjab, it’s a huge responsibility for him too.”
Running my fingers thru the bullet holes at Jallianwala Baug, little did I know that 1 day I'd get a chance to bring alive the lesser known martyr, UDHAM SINGH. #SardarUdhamSingh @ShoojitSircar @ronnielahiri #SheelKumar @writish #ShubenduBhattacharya @filmsrisingsun @sardarudham pic.twitter.com/VxAfmGLYjB
— Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) April 30, 2019
The filmmaker is shooting for the film in St Petersburg and Vicky even shared a small video of the city on his Instagram stories. Talking about the shoot in Russia, Shoojit said, “This is my first period film and it’s hard to create that environment and these characters that are a part of our history. The Russians love India... They love Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun da (Chakraborty). If you want something you only sing “ Jimmy Jimmy’ from Disco Dancer.”
The filmmaker said that the film will be shot on the outskirts of London, parts of Ireland and Germany and India. “We will be shooting for six-seven months, all through the year during different seasons. The film is scheduled for a 2020 release,” he said.
Sircar feels it's important to tell story of Udham Singh
Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar says the tale of freedom fighter Udham Singh's struggle and sacrifice is a very important story for today's audiences.
That's his reason behind making the biopic "Sardar Udham Singh".
A tribute to one of the bravest freedom fighters of India. Presenting the first look of @vickykaushal09 in & as #SardarUdhamSingh set to release in 2020!@ShoojitSircar #SheelKumar @writish #ShubenduBhattacharya @filmsrisingsun @sardarudham pic.twitter.com/MDL5bFCQi4
— Ronnie Lahiri (@ronnielahiri) April 30, 2019
"I chose this event as it is one of the most pivotal revolutionary contributions to the freedom movement which has albeit gone unnoticed for generations," Sircar said in a statement.
Vicky Kaushal will bring alive the story of Udham Singh, who assassinated Michael O' Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of Punjab in pre-Independence India, in revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. Singh was subsequently tried and convicted of murder and hanged in July 1940.
The makers have released the first look of the movie showing Vicky as Udham. Vicky is seen looking dapper in a suit and long overcoat, and is seen channeling an intense emotion.
"Udham's struggle and sacrifice is a very important story for today's audiences to be made aware of, and I have collaborated with my esteemed writers Riteish Shah and Shubendu Bhattacharya, along with my friend and producer Ronnie Lahiri once again for this humble tribute to the maverick freedom fighter and his story," Sircar added.
Sardar Udham 🙏#SardarUdhamSingh @vickykaushal09 @ronnielahiri #SheelKumar @writish @veerakapur7 @kumarthakurone @ajoydada #ShubenduBhattacharya @filmsrisingsun @sardarudham pic.twitter.com/uyDnIe23vY
— Shoojit Sircar (@ShoojitSircar) April 30, 2019
Talking about casting Vicky to tell the heroic tale of Shaheed Udham Singh through the biopic, Sircar said: "Vicky is unquestionably one of the most dynamic actors we have today, and together we shoulder great responsibility to deliver due justice in bringing alive this inspiring story on screen."
Actor Irrfan Khan was originally supposed to play Udham Singh. The film will witness an unprecedented massive shoot schedule across various countries this year. The first schedule is currently underway in Europe. A Rising Sun Film Production, the film is produced by Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar.
It is slated to release in 2020.