Hamara Tiranga to be released on 19 January

Actor Ashmit Patel said the release date of his film Hamara Tiranga has been changed as two big films will be released on 25 January.

"Hamara Tiranga was scheduled to be released on 26 January but two big releases are lined up (Pad Man and Padmaavat), so we decided to release our film one week earlier," Patel said on Monday, 15 January.

"So, fortunately or unfortunately, both my films (Hamara Tiranga and Nirdosh) are releasing on the same day. In my 15-year-career, this is happening for the first time but I think the audience can watch both my films," added the actor, best known for his performance in the 2004 erotic thriller film Murder.

What made him work in Hamara Tiranga, a period film?

"I hadn't done a period film earlier. Each actor tries to do something different with each film. I have worked in thrillers and a few rom-coms but I haven't got the opportunity to do a period film where there is so much of action. This film's script is really strong and my character is interesting as well," he said, and added, "I was born and brought up in Mumbai so to play a villager set in 1940 was the biggest challenge for me."

Going by the posters, the look of the film is similar to Aamir Khan's successful film Lagaan (2001).

When asked about the similarity, Patel said: "Definitely not. There are a few similarities as both are period films who rebel against Britishers and I am also playing a leader of a rebel group just like Aamir Khan did in Lagaan."

"But the story of our film is totally different from Lagaan. If our film works like Lagaan at the box office then I will be very happy," he added.

Hamara Tiranga is the story of an Indian village that revolted and came victorious against the British Empire in 1942.

Directed by Sanjeev Balath, the film also stars Vijay Raaz, Rahul Dev and Milind Soman.

Hamara Tiranga will be released on Friday, 19 January.