Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is all set to bring yet another historical tale to the big screen with Kesari Chapter 2, a follow-up to his acclaimed film Kesari. This time, the film focuses on the harrowing events of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, in which over 1,600 innocent lives were lost at the hands of the British Raj.
In a recent press conference, Akshay, along with the film's producer Karan Johar, addressed the media and opened up about the emotional depth of the project and his personal connection to the story. He also stated that the British government should watch the film and realise their 'mistake'.
Speaking at the event, Akshay revealed how the incident has been a part of his family's oral history, passed down through generations.
"My grandfather witnessed the entire Jallianwala Bagh incident. He told stories to my father about this, and my father told me. I have known a lot about the massacre since I was a child, so the film is very special to me. The event has been etched in my mind always. The most surprising thing was history doesn’t tell us what we actually need to know," an emotional Akshay said.
The actor didn’t hold back when expressing his hope that the film will spark global reflection, particularly among those in the UK.
"I'm not here with a begging bowl to say, ‘They should say sorry’. I want them to at least watch this movie and realise the mistake. Other things will flow automatically from their mouth. The apology is bound to happen, it will flow on its own. But I want them to watch this film. I want the British government and King Charles to watch this film. They should see what happened. The rest will follow automatically," the actor added.
In Kesari Chapter 2, Akshay portrays C Sankaran Nair, the lawyer who famously took on the British Raj by legally challenging General Dyer - the man responsible for the 1919 massacre.
It also features R Madhavan and Ananya Panday in the lead roles.
The film aims to shed light on one of the darkest chapters in colonial history while also highlighting the bravery of those who dared to fight back. It is all set to hit the big screens on April 18.
