Upala KBR (DNA; May 21, 2016)

Ajay Devgn’s ambitious historical Sons of Sardaar is being planned on a huge scale — along the lines of the ensemble cast, action-thriller The Expendables (2010) starring many action stars like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Steve Martin and Mickey Rourke.

Devgn’s SOS based on the historic Battle of Saragarhi, which was fought before the Tirah Campaign on September 12, 1897 between 21 Sikhs of the 36th Sikh Regiment of British India and more than 10,000 Afghan and Orakzai tribesmen will have five big stars from Bollywood. While Ajay is expected to play Havildar Ishar Singh from the 36th Sikh Regiment. The actor-director-producer is in talks with his close friends Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt.

Says a source, “It’s planned on a grand scale and will have spectacular action sequences. Ajay will fly down Hollywood stunt directors to choreograph the action scenes. While he is in talks with Salman and Sanjay, two more heroes will also be finalised. Ajay is making sure that in the script and screenplay all the five major characters are given equal footage. Salman is very excited about the script and also keen to co-produce it with Ajay, who will direct and produce the film. All of the actors will sport beards and a turban as they are from the Sikh regiment.” Sunil Shetty may also be part of this film.

About The Battle of Saragarhi

In August 1897, the contingent of 21 Sikhs from the 36th Sikh under Lt Col John Haughton, were sent to the North West Frontier Province (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), stationed at Samana Hills, Kurag, Sangar, Sahtop Dhar and Saragarhi. Tribal Pashtuns attacked British personnel from time to time and a series of forts. Saragarhi was created midway as a heliographic communication post. On September 12 attacked the signalling post at Saragarhi, so that communication would be lost between the two forts. The contingent of 21 Sikhs from the 36th Sikh Regiment led by Havildar Ishar Singh chose to fight until death and is considered by some military historians as one of history’s great last-stands. Sikh military personnel and Sikh civilians commemorate the battle every year on September 12, as Saragarhi Day as the battle was given the honour of a regimental holiday.