Shoojit Sarkar signs Vicky Kaushal to play freedom fighter Udham Singh in his next

Vicky Kaushal, who kicked-off 2019 on a high note with the earth-shattering success of his film Uri: The Surgical Strike, has been signed on to play the lead role in renowned filmmaker Shoojit Sircar’s next directorial venture.

Kaushal will play freedom fighter Udham Singh in his biopic. Singh is known for assassinating Michael O’Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab in British India in 1940, to avenge the 1919 massacre of Jallianwala Bagh.

According to reports, Shoojit had earlier thought of roping in Irrfan Khan in the same role. However, the director had to drop his plans of signing the Piku (2015) actor in the movie keeping his health issues in mind.

Talking about roping in Vicky Kaushal, Sircar says, “If you look at Vicky’s track record, he is taking brave steps and making some really fabulous choices. I wanted an actor who is ready to give his heart and soul to the film. Plus, he is a Punjabi boy and my film is a story of a Punjabi man. So, in many ways, he turned to be the obvious choice.”

On being cast in a Shoojit Sircar directorial, Kaushal says, “It’s a surreal feeling because it’s like a dream come true as I am finally getting to work with him. I have always been a big admirer of how Shoojit sir looks at his stories. The way he is looking at the character (Udham Singh) and the world is extraordinary as well as beautiful. Plus, it’s also a big honour for me that finally, I am going to be directed by him. Honestly, that’s something that will take time to sink in.”

The film starts rolling in April.