Vicky Kaushal plays the iconic Sam Manekshaw in Meghna Gulzar’s biopic Sam Bahadur, which traces the legendary army chief’s remarkable career from his leadership to his retirement. Recently, Vicky shared a memorable moment when Sam Manekshaw’s daughter messaged him after watching the song Tauba Tauba from his film Bad Newz. In what she termed as the ‘biggest compliment’, she said, “Who is this man?” When he asked for clarification, she explained, “Five months ago you made me believe that you are my father; you can’t do that now.”
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Vicky Kaushal, who considers his role as Sam Manekshaw to be the most challenging role he has ever played, shared an interesting story. After the release of the song Tauba Tauba, he received a message from the late army chief’s daughter. Initially, she was shocked and asked, “Who is this man?” When Vicky asked her to elaborate, she remarked that just five months ago, his performance had convinced her that he was her father, making his current role seem even more surprising. Vicky called this response the ‘biggest compliment’, and appreciated the impact of his portrayal.
Vicky Kaushal discussed the significance of his role in Sam Bahadur, calling it a huge challenge to play a military officer considered a legend by the army. The actor recalled the stories he heard about Sam Manekshaw from his parents, who were in Punjab during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. They would tell how they would huddle in dark rooms and wait for updates from Sam Manekshaw on the radio.
Growing up with these stories and then playing the role was a challenging and exciting responsibility for Vicky. He expressed his gratitude for working under the careful direction of Meghna Gulzar, and noted her dedication and hard work throughout the process.
Even though Sam Bahadur faced tough competition at the box office, Vicky Kaushal’s portrayal of Sam Manekshaw has made a significant mark, further cementing his reputation as a leading actor in Bollywood. Vicky plays Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was the army chief during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
The film, which hit the theatres on December 1, also stars Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. Sam Bahadur managed to hold its own in theatres despite the strong performance of Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal.
Also read: Vicky Kaushal looks great in his latest pic, tells himself ‘just do Instagram’; wife Katrina Kaif sends him a ‘heart’
