Akshay Kumar looks dashing and intense in his Kesari avatar

With a huge kesari (saffron) turban, insignia of the British-Indian army from the 18th century, a thick long beard and intensity writ large on his face, Akshay Kumar clearly means business as Havildar Ishwar Singh, the Sikh man who led the fight against the Afghans in the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi. Akshay unveiled the look of his character from the historical film that is being produced by Dharma Productions.

Tweeting a picture of his look, he wrote: Feeling nothing but immense pride and gratitude while sharing this. Beginning my 2018 with #KESARI, my most ambitious film and a lot of passion. Need your best wishes as always."

The forgotten chapter from India’s pre-independence history is now being brought on celluloid not through one, but three films. Ajay Devgn has used the subject for his Sons of Sardar: Battle of Saragarhi, while Rajkumar Santoshi is making a film with Randeep Hooda in the lead on the same historical chapter. However, it is Kesari that is likely to come first as Devgn's project is delayed and there is no word on the status of Santoshi’s film.

Akshay had famously played a Sikh first in Anees Bazmee’s Singh is Kinng (2008) and later in Singh is Bling (2015).  

Kesari will be all together a different ball game. While promoting Pad Man yesterday, Akshay had revealed that the shoot for Kesari will commence from today. Salman Khan was to earlier co-produce the film with Johar, but the Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) superstar backed out after good friend Ajay Devgn was reportedly upset with Khan siding with his nemesis Karan Johar.

Kesari is slated to be released in 2019.