New Delhi: Akshay Kumar, who was last seen in 'Ram Setu', has announced another film which is a biopic. The actor will portray the real-life story of mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill who under very difficult circumstances saved 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Raniganj of West Bengal in 1989. It was India’s first Coal mine Rescue. To commemorate the day, November 16 was marked as ‘Rescue Day’.
The Union Minister of Coal and Mines-Govt of India Shri Pralhad Joshi commemorated Late Gill on Twitter on this day. Overwhelmed with the opportunity of playing a real-life hero on the screen, Akshay Kumar took to Twitter replying, “Grateful to you @JoshiPralhad ji, for recalling India’s first coal mine rescue mission – this day 33yrs ago. मेरा सौभाग्य है कि मैं #SardarJaswantSinghGill जी का किरदार अपनी फ़िल्म में निभा रहा हूँ. It’s a story like no other!”
The film backed by Pooja Entertainment, will be directed by Tinu Suresh Desai who has earlier worked with Akshay Kumar on the National Award-winning film 'Rustom'.
Producer Vashu Bhagnani called it an honour to be able to showcase this story through his film. “Remembering Late #SardarJaswantSinghGill on this day, who rescued the lives of miners who were stuck in the coal mines of Raniganj under very difficult circumstances. It is indeed an honour and privilege to showcase his heroic act in our next film,” he tweeted.
Born on November 22, 1939, in Amritsar, Gill was a Khalsa College alum, and was awarded Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak by President Ramaswamy Venkataraman in 1991.
Raniganj coal mine, India's first coal mine, was opened in 1774 after John Sumner and Suetonius Grant Heatly of the British East India Company acquired a licence for mining activities. The mine was nationalised in 1974 and was acquired by the Coal Mines Authority of India.
Produced by Pooja Entertainment, the untitled edge-of-the-seat rescue drama is scheduled to release in 2023.