Vicky Kaushal Initially Thought He Wasn't Attractive Enough to Play Sam Manekshaw in "Sam Bahadur"

Actor Vicky Kaushal said on Tuesday that he first believed he wasn't attractive enough to play Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in the movie "Sam Bahadur," directed by Meghna Gulzar.

at the 2018 film "Raazi" filming, Kaushal said that Gulzar informed him at the film's trailer premiere event at the Manekshaw Centre that she wanted to produce a biography on Manekshaw.

"I recall telling Meghna what she wanted to do next when we were filming 'Raazi' in Patiala. Additionally, she said that she wants to film Sam Manekshaw," Kaushal remarked.

Since both of my parents are from Punjab, I had heard a lot about him from them. But I had no idea how he appeared. I thus surreptitiously looked up his picture on Google throughout that talk. "He is very handsome, and I will not be getting this role," I murmured. However, I must appreciate Meghna for casting me in the character of this attractive person," he said.

Manoj Pande, the Chief of Staff of the Army, saw the trailer's debut. Attendees included Kaushal's co-stars Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, director Gulzar, and producer Ronnie Screwvala.

According to the film's creators, "Sam Bahadur" will cover Manekshaw's more than 40-year career, including key moments like his participation in World War II and his role as Chief of Army Staff during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, which resulted in the establishment of Bangladesh.

According to Kaushal, it was difficult for him to play the title role.

Not because of the way he spoke or moved, but rather because of the guy he was, this is the hardest part I have ever had to play. This was an effort to lead that kind of life. Clearly, a collective effort went into it," he said.

The actor said that his goal in playing the role was to highlight his humanitarian side on the big screen.

"He was asked in an interview what his 40-year career's greatest accomplishment had been. And he said, 'I have never disciplined a soldier in my career, from second lieutenant to field marshal.' And that's what made him a hero to me—compassion and sympathy for every jawan, particularly when you have all the might and authority.

"It had that swagger, flair, and charm, but in the end, it also had that heart. "I was trying to aim for that, because he had a compassionate heart," he said.

Kaushal said that although he had to concentrate on the character's physical attributes as part of the preparation, the goal was to capture the spirit.

"While playing, there are moments when you are unaware of what you are doing. Of course, I recall his gait and his speech, as well as how much he leaned and sat. Meghna and I researched, watched his interviews, and spoke about Sam for at least five hours every day for three months before we began filming.

Meeting his family members and doing a lot of reading helped me understand the man's attitude, perspective, and strength. They were a great assistance. We met after all of this and decided that this was our Sam Manekshaw," he said.

Upon rejoining Gulzar, Kaushal said that their trust has grown throughout "Raazi" and that it hasn't altered at all.

"I call Meghna home... We have a link so strong that it seems like a movie. I have faith in her judgment and gut feelings. She goes on the floor after creating a film on paper." Sanya Malhotra plays Manekshaw's wife Silloo in "Sam Bahadur," while Fatima Sana Shaikh plays Indira Gandhi, a former prime minister.

Shah Rukh Khan's "Jawan" and Netflix's "Kathal" were Malhotra's first two releases of the year, and he said that 2023 has shown to be noteworthy.

"I really believe that 2023 will be my year. I feel really fortunate to have contributed to two amazing movies, 'Jawan' and 'Sam Bahadur', as well as 'Kathal'," the actress said.

Shaikh said that she was ignorant about Manekshaw's life narrative, much like a lot of other individuals.

"I was among those who was unaware about Sam Manekshaw. Nobody in my immediate vicinity, not even my parents, ever mentioned him. However, the movie educates you and introduces you to these kinds of people. Like me, there are a ton of others," she said.

Malhotra and Shaikh, who debuted on the big screen with the Aamir Khan-starring 2015 hit "Dangal," are reunited in "Sam Bahadur."

We've seen each other develop, and I'm particularly thrilled to see Sanya doing well at work. She performs very well. We had no idea where to go from here when we first began. However, we are both supporting one another. Fortunately, we worked together on "Ludo" and this movie. I'm hoping we can collaborate more," Shaikh said.

Malhotra claims that both of them have developed as performers. She spoke about how intensely "Dangal" was shot, with them portraying wrestlers Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat from real life.

"I believe I've seen us both develop and become at ease in front of the camera. I recall that when we received "Dangal," we were afraid of being replaced, therefore we never disclosed to anybody if we were injured.

"Fatima didn't notify anybody that she had fractured ribs. Thus, we used to do it while experiencing discomfort. To get to this point, we have worked really hard. To watch her go this far, I'm proud of her," she said.

"Sam Bahadur," which RSVP Pictures is producing, was written by Bhavani Iyer, Shantanu Shrivastava, and Gulzar. On December 1, the film is slated to open in theaters.