TV actress Rutuja Bagwe to debut in Marathi films with Shaheed Bhai Kotwal

After making a name for herself in Marathi plays and television serials, Rutuja Bagwe is now all set to make her big screen debut in the Marathi film Shaheed Bhai Kotwal. She plays the character of Rakhma on the TV show, Tu Majha Saangaati. 

The film is a biopic on the revolutionary Bhai Kotwal, played by Ashutosh Patki. Bagwe will be seen playing the role of his wife Indu.

Shaheed Bhai Kotwal will be directed by Eknath Desle and Parag Sawant. Both are making their directorial debuts. Sawant was the editor of the film Braveheart - Jidd Jagnyachi (2017). The film is produced by Pravin Dattatrey Patil and Eknath Mahadu Desle under their banner Swarjai Art Media Productions.

Born as Vitthal Laxman Kotwal, Bhai was a social reformer and freedom fighter who followed the socialist philosophy. He has had immense contribution in social work, politics and, most importantly, the freedom struggle against the British. 

Kotwal became the vice chairman of Matheran city in 1941. He became a martyr in 1943 when he was shot by a British officer while on an underground mission.

Kotwal has a memorial in Siddhagad fort, which was in the news three years ago for being neglected by the authorities. Apart from that, the park near the iconic single screen theatre Plaza in Mumbai is named after him as Veer Kotwal Udyan.