EXCLUSIVE: Rajkumar Santoshi will REVIVE Randeep Hooda starrer Battle Of Saragarhi next year | Bollywood Bubble
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Rajkumar Santoshi returned to the director’s chair after 9 years with his latest release Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh. During this while though, the director had a few films which were to happen, but somehow didn’t. One of those films was Battle Of Saragarhi, which was to feature Randeep Hooda in the lead. The film got shelved after a long prep time but the director reveals that he now plans to revive it next year.
Battle of Saragarhi got shelved after Kesari’s announcement
Battle Of Saragarhi was to be based on the infamous battle from 1897 where an estimated 12,000 – 24,000 Afghan soldiers attacked the outpost of Saragarhi. The soldiers swarmed and surrounded the fort, preparing to assault it. But the 21 Jat Sikh Indian soldiers in the fort, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, refused to surrender. The story of their valour was to be presented in the Randeep Hooda starrer. However, it got shelved once Akshay Kumar announced his film Kesari on the same subject.
Rajkumar Santoshi to revive Randeep Hooda starrer Battle Of Saragarhi
Talking about the film, Santoshi shares, “I worked on a script called Battle Of Saragarhi. We even shot for it for 20 days. We were making an honest film with Randeep Hooda in the lead. Even he was so dedicated to it and worked on his character for about 2.5 years. We had 20 more Sardars get prepared in every way for the film but because Kesari was announced with Akshay Kumar, a big star in the lead, our investors got scared and backed out. So, I had a setback for almost 3 years.”
However, Santoshi is now set to revive the project. He reveals, “But I will make this film next year. I have worked on this story a lot, won’t leave it midway.” When asked if Randeep will also return as the lead in the film, Santoshi says, “It will depend on the financials. It is an ambitious project, so it will all depend on that.”
Apart from that, Santoshi also reunites with Sunny Deol after 27 years in his next that he will start shooting for next month. He also revealed to Bollywood Bubble that he is planning a 2 hero comedy on the lines of Andaz Apna Apna, but it’s not a sequel to the classic.