Looks like Varun Dhawan is on a roll. After Bhediya and Jugg Jugg Jeeyo, it was announced earlier in January that he has also joined hands with Sriram Raghavan‘s Ekkis, based on the life of martyred second lieutenant of Indian army Arun Khetarpal. But now, Raghavan confirmed that as the lockdown norms are easing gradually, they are planning to begin the production of Ekkis by this September and Dhawan is supposed to undergo rigorous weight reduction training for the film which he has already initiated.
Those who are unfamiliar with Arun Khetarpal, he was an officer of the Indian Army in 1960s era and a posthumous recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration for valour in face of the enemy. He was martyred in action in the Battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 at the tender age of 21. Thus, the film’s name ‘Ekkis’ is based on the young martyr’s age.
Terming it as the most ambitious project of himself, Raghavan also revealed that Dinesh Vijan is also onboard with the project and will be producing the biopic. He has also said that they are also working out their plan for the VFX of the film for certain scenes to be shot as they will have to recreate a specific era as the film is based on the Indo-Pak war and the life of lieutenant Khetarpal which is set in 1960s till 1971.
This will be Dhawan’s second collaboration with Raghavan and is all geared up for his first film on an army officer. He will spend some time at the National Defence Academy to understand the lives of the army personnel to prepare to the core for the film.
This will be extremely intriguing to see how Raghavan and Dhawan approach the biopic of Arun Khetarpal who’s fierce final words were, “No, Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working and I will get these bastards.”
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