
Randeep Hooda to star in Operation Khukri, based on real-life military rescue mission: ‘It's about courage in the face of insurmountable odds'
Actor Randeep Hooda is set to headline the upcoming military drama movie 'Operation Khukri' based on one of Indian Army's most daring peacekeeping missions abroad. Inspired by the real-life events of 2000. The film tells the story of 233 soldiers who were held hostage in Sierra Leone in West Africa by rebel forces and the high risk rescue mission undertaken.
In the movie, Hooda will portray Major General Raj Pal Punia, then a young Company Commander of the 14th mechanised infantry who navigated the stand-off and subsequently the extraordinary rescue amid intense jungle warfare.
Hooda said the movie will definitely inspire and move every Indian. ''Operation Khukri' is a story that moved me 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,' the actor-filmmaker said in a statement.
'Operation Khukri' is based on Penguin Random House India's bestseller 'Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army's Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad'. The book's rights have been secured by filmmaker Rahul Mittra and Hooda.
The makers are yet to announce the key details of the movie, including the director and other cast members.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Modi, mangoes and puppets: Usha Vance on her children's first India experience
Usha Vance, Second Lady of the United States, shared a heartfelt reflexion on her family's visit to India, fondly recounting her children's delightful encounter with Prime Minister Narendra at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, D.C., Usha Vance described how the journey impacted her family -- especially her children, who were visiting their ancestral homeland for the first we were at the Prime Minister's residence, our son was just so taken by everything and then taken by the entire cart of mangoes that was available for him to eat that he announced to the Prime Minister that he thought he could maybe live there,' she said, drawing laughs from the audience. 'Our children talk about it all the time. They've been all over the place and had wonderful opportunities to see the world, but this was really special to them.' Vance emphasised that the meeting with PM Modi wasn't just diplomatic -- it was deeply personal. 'I think it was a very productive conversation for JD and the Prime Minister, of course. But also, I think it was a real opportunity for us to kind of cement that personal relationship that they have, which I think is only to the good.'advertisementOne standout moment for the children was a traditional puppet show featuring acts from across India. 'There was a puppet show that was a particular highlight, with sort of puppeteering from all over the country, including from Andhra Pradesh, where my family is from,' she said. 'There were bits from the Ramayana, there were comedic bits with animals, and it was a huge hit. My kids have been trying to recreate it at home with construction paper.'Usha Vance also shared a tender moment when her children, jet-lagged after travelling through Europe, first laid eyes on the Indian Prime Minister. 'They saw an Indian man with a white beard and white hair, and they just put him in the grandfather category immediately,' she said with a smile. 'They are very into him; they just love him, and he really cemented his status by giving our five-year-old a birthday present that day. When we were able to visit his home, they just sort of ran up. They were hugging him. He was just incredibly kind and generous to them.''It really was the trip of a lifetime for us,' said Vance. 'My children had never been to India. They'd grown up just knowing so much about this country -- the stories, the food, and the relationships with grandparents and friends -- but they had never actually seen it, so it was just sort of mind-blown from their perspective.'She concluded by hinting at future plans to explore more of India, especially the southern regions where her family hails from. 'For JD and me, it just could not have been any more special. We had the opportunity to see some of the greatest sites in North India. Well, we're looking forward to our next trip and trying to get to the parts of the country where my family is from as well.'Must Watch


New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Why Kandukondain Kandukondain remains a classic
Character sketch Rai's Meenakshi echoes Marianne's emotional spirit, while Tabu's Soumya reflects Elinor's sensibility — but with a uniquely Indian layer: the internalised burden of always having to please others. Social media critic Rino, who writes for carpe_diem_movies on Instagram, notes, 'Soumya is a poignant portrayal of a person suffering from a people-pleasing attitude, burdened by the label of being 'unlucky'. She silently endures its impact. She is overcompensating for the stigma of being unlucky.' Her growth — standing by Manohar (Ajith) while suppressing her own dreams, dealing with society's judgement — ends not just in love but in finding herself. Rino says, 'After a moment of intense doubt, she finally surrenders her self-doubt. It's a moment of profound self-realisation, signalling her growth as a person.' Instead of accepting her sister's 'fate', Rai's Meenakshi directly questions it, notes Meenakshi Girish. 'Why blame the woman? Why not consider that the guy was unstable or problematic? That kind of internal questioning within the film makes it feel intelligent and self-aware. The sisters don't just contrast — they complement each other,' she adds. The film also updated Austen's idea of marriage as a woman's primary goal. Dr Meenakshi explains, 'In Austen's world, marriage was an important way in which a woman found herself. In the modern world, especially in tradition-bound south India, carving an independent identity takes precedence over mere romantic interests. The ultimate fruition of romantic relationships take on strength and adds meaning from the assertion of newfound identities.' Soumya finds her voice before finding love. Her sister fiercely pursues her music career. Their romantic relationships feel earned, growing out of their personal journeys rather than defining them.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' box office collection Day 17: Tom Cruise starrer records the lowest on its third Monday
'Mission: Impossible – The final Reckoning' Released on May 17, 2025, 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' has completed a successful run of 17 days at the Indian box office. Despite tough competition from newer releases, the movie maintained a stronghold and crossed the Rs 90 crore mark on its 16th day, marking the end of its third weekend. However, the following Monday couldn't keep up with the weekend numbers, and according to early estimates from Sacnilk, the Tom Cruise starrer 'Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning' recorded its lowest collection of Rs. 1.25 crore on its third Monday. ' Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning ' box office update Directed by Christopher McQuarrie , had a smashing opening of Rs 54.4 crore in its first week. However, the high-octane drama saw a substantial fall in the business during the second week, as it minted only Rs 26.75 crore. It appeared as if the action-packed film might slowly lose its hold over the Indian audience; however, as the third weekend began, the movie started picking up pace. With a rise of 5 percent, on Friday, the movie minted Rs 1.9 crore across all languages in India. And, it wasn't a tough act to follow for the following Saturday and Sunday, as the film collected Rs. 3.65 crore and 3.75 crore respectively. On Monday, on the other hand, which was its day 17, the movie again witnessed a dip and made only Rs. 1.25 crores, bringing the cumulative Indian box office collection of 'Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning' to an estimated Rs 91.70 crore. 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' occupancy rate on day 17 The Tom Cruise starrer had an overall 12.94% English occupancy on Monday. The footfall during the morning shows was only 6.72%, but by afternoon it rose to 13.70%, and in the evening it went to 14.73%. Further, 16.62%, the evening shows had the best occupancy rate. As far as the Hindi shows are concerned, 9.66% occupancy was noted on June 02, 2025. The statistical pattern is similar to that of English shows, with mornings witnessing the lowest and the nights seeing the highest footfall. Here's the segregation: Morning Shows: 5.91% Afternoon Shows: 10.39% Evening Shows: 10.71% Night Shows: 11.62% 'Mission Impossible' Director Mcquarrie Reveals Tom Cruise's Dangerous Habit | Deets Inside Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .