Randeep Hooda to star in war drama ‘Operation Khukri,’ based on the 2000 Sierra Leone rescue mission

Bollywood star Randeep Hooda will headline an upcoming military drama titled Operation Khukri, based on the real-life military operation that was carried out in 2000 in Sierra Leone

Bollywood star Randeep Hooda will headline an upcoming military drama titled Operation Khukri, based on the real-life military operation that was carried out in 2000 in Sierra Leone.

The film will tell the story of a rescue mission that was undertaken to save 233 soldiers who were held hostage in Sierra Leone, West Africa, by Rebel Forces. “The mission — once a peacekeeping effort that escalated into a fierce standoff — tested the mettle of the Indian contingent, surrounded without supplies for 75 days in the hostile terrains of Kailahun. What followed was an audacious, never-before-seen counteroffensive that would be remembered as one of the most successful operations in Indian military history,” reads a description from the makers.

The film will feature Hooda as Major General Raj Pal Punia, who was then a young Company Commander of the 14th Mechanised Infantry. The Major General navigated the extraordinary rescue mission and the subsequent jungle warfare.

The upcoming film is based on the bestseller ‘Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army’s Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad,’ which is a first-hand account by the Major General, who co-wrote the book along with his daughter Damini Punia.

Production banners Rahul Mittra Films and Randeep Hooda Films have secured the rights to the film adaptation of the Penguin Random House India book.

In a statement, Hooda said that the story of Operation Khukri moved him deeply. “It’s not just a tale of guns and glory, but of sacrifice, brotherhood, and unyielding courage in the face of insurmountable odds. To step into the shoes of Major General Punia, a man who led his men out of a 75-day siege in an unknown land, is an honour and a responsibility. Our aim is to bring to life a chapter of Indian military history that deserves far more recognition, not just for the spectacle, but for the spirit of our soldiers who would rather die than surrender. I believe this story has the power to inspire every Indian,” said the Jaat-actor.