After months of speculation, Akshay Kumar confirmed that he is part of a biopic on mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill, who saved miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Raniganj, West Bengal in 1989. The film, touted to be India’s first coal mine rescue film, is being directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, who has earlier worked with Kumar on the National Award-winning film, Rustom. While responding to union minister of coals and mines, Prahlad Joshi’s tribute to Gill on the 33rd anniversary of the rescue, Kumar shared, “Grateful to you for recalling India’s first coal mine rescue mission, [on] this day, 33 years ago. It’s an honour for me to portray Jaswant Singh Gill in my upcoming film. It’s a story like no other!” The film, which is currently being shot, reportedly also stars Parineeti Chopra. Meanwhile, discussion around Kumar’s association with the much-discussed comic caper, Hera Pheri — also starring Paresh Rawal —continued on social media.

Tale to tell