Randeep Hooda to play Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in Mahesh Manjrekar’s biopic

Ever since director Mahesh Manjrekar announced a film on the life of revolutionary Vinayak Damodar Savarkar last year, there has been a lot of curiosity as to who will play the lead role. It is now learnt that Randeep Hooda will essay the historical figure.

The film, SwatantraVeer Savarkar, is being produced by Sandeep Singh and Anand Pandit.

Sharing the news with the newspaper Mid-Day, Hooda said that Savarkar’s contribution to the freedom struggle hasn’t got due recognition. “There are many heroes who have played their part in getting us our independence. However, not everyone has got their due. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is the most misunderstood, debated and influential among these unsung heroes,” he said. 

Sandeep Singh feels Hooda is the best choice for this movie. “There are very few actors in India who can create magic with his talent, and Randeep is one amongst them. Considering Veer Savarkar as one of the most controversial characters in Indian history, I could only think of Randeep. Veer Savarkar's contribution cannot be ignored, I wonder why our history books never mentioned Veer Savarkar?” he said in a statement. 

Manjrekar said in a statement, “This is the right time to tell the stories which we had ignored. SwatantraVeer Savarkar will be an edgy cinematic narrative that will force us to revisit our history. I have been wanting to collaborate with Sandeep Singh, and I am glad that we are doing this film together.” 

Anand Pandit added, “Cinema is a creative medium that celebrates different thought processes. Films like SwatantraVeer Savarkar will help create a far more engaging public dialogue. With Mahesh and Randeep at the helm, I am sure, we will create something memorable for audiences” 

SwatantraVeer Savarkar will be Hooda’s third biopic after Rang Rasiya (2014), where he played the legendary painter Raja Ravi Varma, and Sarbjit (2016), which saw him essay the role of an Indian farmer spent his last days in a Pakistan jail where he was hanged. The latter was also produced by Sandeep Singh. 

Following the Savarkar biopic, Manjrekar will also be making a film on Nathuram Godse, the murderer of Mahatma Gandhi. Incidentally, Savarkar and Godse were close friends.