Varun Dhawan reunites with Sriram Raghavan to play youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, Arun Khetarpal

After Vicky Kaushal and Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan is set to play an army officer in Sriram Raghavan's next biopic.

The actor will take on the role of Arun Khetarpal, the youngest Indian officer to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra. The film also marks the reunion of the Badlapur (2015) director and lead actor.

Dhawan shared the announcement early today on his social media accounts on Khetarpal's 69th birth anniversary. 

In a quote to the daily tabloid Mumbai Mirror, Dhawan said, "When I heard Arun Khetarpal’s story I was awed that this could have actually happened. I understood by Dinoo (Vijan) and Sriram are so passionate about it. When I met Arun's brother Mukesh, I was moved. I too have a brother and I can't understand what he may have gone through." 

Another report in the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted director Sriram Raghavan as saying, "We have enough people from military on board. These things you can't get it wrong one bit. When you are working on a real story, it is your responsibility to get everything right and stay as true and authentic as possible. It is all the more challenging for me as it is not my zone, I am doing something else. But I liked the story so I am doing it." 

Second lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery on the field of action at the battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. He was 21 years old at the time of his death. 

The untitled film will be produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films. In signing on, Dhawan follows the suit of his Student Of The Year (2012) co-star  Sidharth Malhotra, who will also play a Param Vir Chakra awardee, Vikram Batra, in the upcoming biopic, Sher Shah (2020). 

In addition to Raghavan's film, Dhawan is also set to reprise Govinda's role in the remake of the 1999 cult film, Coolie No 1. The film will be directed by David Dhawan, and will feature Sara Ali Khan alongside him.