The Battle of Saragarhi is a well-known chapter of our history," starts off Anurag Singh, the director of Akshay Kumar-starrer Kesari. The Karan Johar production is a retelling of the 1897 battle that saw 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army fight the 10,000-strong troop of Afghani tribesmen in the Saragarhi outpost.

Considered one of history's greatest last stands, the subject had caught the attention of many filmmakers. "I was approached by Salman Khan Films, which was co-producing the drama along with Dharma. They later opted out and Dharma took over. This film fell in my lap."