On August 12, 2021, OTT platform Amazon Prime Video will premiere the much-awaited movie, Shershaah. Starring Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, it celebrates the hardship and dedication of the Kargil war hero, captain Vikram Batra towards the nation. Sidharth who plays captain Vikram Batra on-screen was quizzed on his experience of playing someone who was a real life hero, also what kind of responsibilities he had when it came to his family and his job. Responding to this question during his interaction with Indian Express, he termed it nerve-wracking.
He said, “It’s nerve-wracking to see that I might be doing my job as an actor, we might be making films but for that family, who’s letting us use their story, it’s not just a commercial film. It’s their family’s story, it’s their son and brother there.” Recalling the time when he shot in Palampur, though he had met the late captain’s family, it was the first time he visited their house. He added, “I remember when I was shooting in Palampur, I had met the family before, but it was the first time I visited their house. On the first floor they have a lovely museum of all his belongings, his clothes, camera or his diary, medals, it was very overwhelming.”
The actor revealed that because he too belongs to a Punjabi family, he could find a connection with Vikram’s family. Hence, the actor speculates it could be one of the reasons Vikram’s family thought Sidharth was perfectly fit to play Vikram on screen. “First, I could connect with them because they are such a warm, Punjabi family. I come from that background as well. Maybe that’s why they thought I fit (the role) because I am a North Indian and they felt I looked like him,” said Sidharth.
Sidharth after visiting Vikram’s residence was gripped with a feeling that Shershaah was more than just a film, “I remember coming back from their house and telling Vishnu over dinner, “When you meet the family… It’s more than just a film. It’s such a big responsibility because we are telling their son’s story. So, we can’t be looking at it from a commercial point of view.” ALSO READ:
Responding to this, the actor shared how director Vishnuvardhan reacted to it, Sidharth said, “Vishnu was the wiser one. He said we can’t take that stress right now. We have locked on to a lovely script and we are in the midst of shooting and we just have to put our heads down and keep working, which completely makes sense because now when you see it… We can’t keep that stress every day. Having said that, I am extremely excited yet nervous to show it to the family and I pray they feel we have done justice to their son’s story.” ALSO READ: Shershaah Song Raataan Lambiyan Out: Traces The Endearing Love Story Of Sidharth Malhotra-Kiara Advani Aka Captain Vikram Batra And Dimple
Image Source: Instagram/sidmalhotra