In an interview with mid-day ahead of Sam Bahadur’s release, Vicky Kaushal had mentioned that playing war veteran Sam Manekshaw was “a big opportunity as well as big responsibility” (As soon as I was in uniform, I knew this was it, Nov 29). Four days since the release of the Meghna Gulzar-directed biopic, the actor has been flooded with praise from critics and audiences. The director’s attention to detail, coupled with the emotional depth Kaushal brought to the character, have made it one of his most compelling performances so far.