Actor Randeep Hooda has acquired the rights to the book Operation Khukri, which is inspired by the real-life story of Major General Rajpal Punia, for a movie adaptation. Hooda is set to headline the military drama based on one of the Indian Army’s most daring peacekeeping missions abroad.
Titled Operation Khukri, the film tells the story of 233 soldiers who were held hostage in Sierra Leone (West Africa) by rebel forces and the high-risk rescue mission that was undertaken.
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In the film, Hooda will portray Major General Rajpal Punia (a Company Commander of the 14th Mechanised Infantry), who navigated the stand-off and subsequently the extraordinary rescue amid intense jungle warfare.
"Operation Khukri is a story that moved me deeply. It’s not just a tale of guns and glory, but of sacrifice, brotherhood, and unyielding courage in the face of insurmountable odds. To step into the shoes of Major General Punia, a man who led his men out of a 75-day siege in an unknown land, is an honour and a responsibility. Our aim is to bring to life a chapter of Indian military history that deserves far more recognition — not just for the spectacle, but for the spirit of our soldiers who would rather die than surrender. I believe this story has the power to inspire every Indian," Hooda said in a statement.
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The film is based on Penguin Random House India’s bestseller Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army’s Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad, the adaptation rights of which the makers Rahul Mittra Films and Randeep Hooda Films have secured exclusively.
Hooda was recently seen in Jaat, which was headlined by Sunny Deol.