Latest news with #BravestPeacekeepingMissionAbroad
Hans India
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Acting always feels like my first job: Randeep Hooda
Actor and filmmaker Randeep Hooda has opened up about the emotional and psychological challenges that come with his craft. Despite his years in the industry, the actor admits that acting never gets easier and that each role brings with it a renewed sense of fear and uncertainty. Speaking about his mindset before taking on a new role, Randeep said, 'If you're not uncertain and you're not feeling like, 'Oh my God, this time they're going to discover that I don't know anything about acting,' then you're not doing it right. That is what keeps me on my toes. It always feels like I'm doing my first job.' When asked what he finds more powerful — an actor's spoken lines or the silences in between — Randeep reflected, 'Whatever you say are just your thoughts. And most of us try to hide our thoughts or don't completely say what we mean. Speaking is the last form of any communication between two human beings.' On the film front, Randeep is set to headline the upcoming war drama Operation Khukri, based on the book Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army's Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad by Major General Rajpal Punia and Damini Punia. The film will depict the real-life rescue of 233 Indian soldiers held hostage in Sierra Leone in 2000. Randeep also has a key role in Matchbox, an American action-adventure comedy directed by Sam Hargrave and inspired by the popular toy brand. The film, set for a fall 2026 release, stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Danai Gurira, and others. With both national and international projects in the pipeline, Randeep Hooda continues to push boundaries — with the same nervous excitement that marked the beginning of his journey.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Randeep Hooda to feature in military-drama based on Operation Khukri
Randeep Hooda is set to feature in a war-drama set around Operation Khukri, a military operation led by the Indian Army in West Africa's Sierra Leone in 2000. The film will be based on the book Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army's Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad, written by Major General Raj Pal Punia along with his daughter Damini Punia. It tells the story of 233 soldiers who were held hostage in Sierra Leone by rebel forces and the high risk recuse mission undertaken. The adaptation rights of the book have been exclusively secured by Rahul Mittra Films and Randeep Hooda Films.
News18
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Randeep Hooda To Headline Epic War Drama Based On Operation Khukri
Last Updated: Randeep Hooda stars in Operation Khukri, a military drama about the 2000 rescue of 233 Indian soldiers in Sierra Leone, playing Major General Raj Pal Punia. Fresh off the success of Jaat, Randeep Hooda is all set to step into the shoes of a real-life war hero for his next big project. He will be seen in a gripping military drama titled Operation Khukri. The film will bring to screen one of the Indian Army's most daring and lesser-known rescue missions overseas. Set in 2000, Operation Khukri follows the incredible true story of 233 Indian soldiers who were held hostage by rebel forces in Sierra Leone, West Africa. With no food, water or backup for 75 days, the soldiers were trapped deep in enemy territory. Randeep Hooda will play Major General Raj Pal Punia, who at the time was a young company commander and played a key role in leading the brave counterattack to rescue his men from the siege. The movie is inspired by the bestselling book Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army's Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad, published by Penguin Random House India. The rights to the story have been officially acquired by Rahul Mittra Films and Randeep Hooda Films. Talking about the film, Randeep shared, 'Operation Khukri is a story that moved me deeply… not just about guns and glory, but about sacrifice, brotherhood and courage. To portray Major General Punia is both an honour and a huge responsibility." The mission, which began as a peacekeeping effort, soon turned into a tense standoff in the hostile jungles of Kailahun. The final rescue, led by the Indian Army, became one of the most successful operations in our military history. Talking about Randeep Hooda, he made his Hindi film debut with Monsoon Wedding in 2001. Ever since, there was no looking back for him. He had a turning point in his career with the gangster film Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010). He continued to gain attention with supporting roles in films such as Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster (2011), Jannat 2 (2012), Jism 2 (2012), Cocktail (2012), Heroine (2012) and Jaat (2025). First Published: May 20, 2025, 10:17 IST
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
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. 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.
