Last year, on the occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, it was announced that ‘Vaastava’ director Mahesh Manjrekar was roped in to direct a film titled ‘Swatantra Veer Savarkar’. In another important development, Randeep Hooda is now set to portray the titular role in the Veer Savarkar biopic film ‘Swatantra Veer Savarkar’.
The movie is expected to go on floors in the month of June and is planned to be filmed in several locations including London, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and in Maharashtra.
Born on May 28, 1883, in Maharashtra, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a well-known Indian independence activist and politician. The prominent personality had an extraordinary life from his days in the infamous Cellular Jail, to his restricted freedom in Ratnagiri district, to being the leader of the Hindu Mahasabha and many more important events in his life, until his sad demise in February 1966.
Interestingly, before Randeep Hooda’s casting in the lead role, Ayushmann Khurrana was ostensibly in talks to play the legendary central character for the challenging role. Having said that, Randeep Hooda too is a terrific actor who has proved his acting prowess time and again.
After making his feature film acting debut with Mira Nair’s ‘Monsoon Wedding’, he went on to deliver some fine performances in films like the gangster drama ‘D’, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster’, Milan Luthria’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’, Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Highway’, and the biopic film ‘Sarbjit’. He came into the international limelight after starring alongside Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth in the Netflix action flick ‘Extraction’.
Coming back to Mahesh Manjrekar’s Veer Savarkar biopic film, this is not the first time a film based on the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar or his on-screen portrayal is being made. Previously, Indian actor Annu Kapoor had essayed the role of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in Priyadarshan’s 1996 epic historical drama film ‘Kaalapani’. Thereafter, a film directed by Ved Rahi based on the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was released in the year 2001.
It remains to be seen what aspects of the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar will be portrayed in the upcoming film being directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. Reportedly, the movie will narrate the untold story of Veer Savarkar from a different perspective. Stay tuned to Binged on the latest updates on Mahesh Manjrekar’s ‘Swatantra Veer Savarkar’ starring Randeep Hooda.