Producer Ronnie Screwvala and director Meghna Gulzar have found their leading man for the biopic on Sam Manekshaw. The makers have roped in Vicky Kaushal to play the legendary army man.
Sam Bahadur, as he was popularly known was born on April 3, 1914 in Amritsar. Born to a Parsi family, Manekshaw wanted to be a doctor much like his military-doctor father but fate had something else in store for him. Manekshaw became the part of the first intake of 40 cadets of Indian Army in 1932 by clearing Indian Military Academy (IMA) entrance examination. He served as a captain with the Frontier Force Regiment in Burma during the Second World War and clinched victory against the Japanese. One of his famous quotes is “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gorkha.”
He was decorated with a Military Cross (MC) for his exemplary courage during this period.
RSVP announced the film, which goes on floors late next year, on his death anniversary. The script is written by Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Shrivastava along with Meghna.
“Sam Manekshaw’s name will be etched in history as one of the greatest soldier and mind, India has ever seen. Young India desperately needs role models to look up to, needs to be educated on the contribution made by this icon to India — as we know it today. I could not have asked for a better storyteller than Meghna to collaborate with on this one and will be a treat to do this with Vicky again,” says Ronnie Screwvala.
Meghna, who will be directing Vicky for the second time after their hit film Raazi, says “This film has been brewing between RSVP and I, for some time now. With Vicky now coming on board to play Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, it has begun to simmer. Looking forward to things to come to fruition one step at a time.”
“It’s an absolute honour for me to be getting the opportunity to portray the life of Sam Manekshaw. Reuniting with Ronnie and Meghna feels like home because of the tremendous comfort level we share. We are thrilled to bring forward the story of this fearless patriot and the first Field Marshal of India,” added Vicky.
