Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is gearing up to return to the big screen with his upcoming movie, Sarfira. This highly anticipated film is a Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed Tamil drama, Soorarai Pottru (2020), which featured South actor Suriya. As the release date approaches, here’s everything you need to know about Sarfira.
What is Sarfira’s release date?
The highly anticipated film Sarfira will be released in theatres on July 12, 2024. Akshay Kumar will be seen as Vir Mhatre, a determined villager with a dream to start India’s first low-cost airline. The plot is based on a true story, originally played by Suriya in the Tamil version. The narrative revolves around Vir’s struggles and triumphs as he navigates the challenges of the aviation startup industry.
Since its trailer release, Sarfira has become one of the most anticipated films of July 2024. It quickly became the most-watched movie trailer within 24 hours on YouTube and is now the top-rated upcoming film on IMDb, surpassing other major upcoming releases like Indian 2 and Bad Newz.
As mentioned earlier, Sarfira is based on the true story of Captain G.R. Gopinath, the man behind Air Deccan, India’s first low-cost airline. Akshay Kumar plays the titular character inspired by Gopinath, who dreams of making air travel accessible to the common man. The movie follows his journey as he strives to bring his dream to fruition. Despite being broke and heavily in debt, Vir’s innovative idea promises to revolutionize air travel for ordinary citizens.
Furthermore, his determination leads him to pitch his idea to Paresh Goswami, an airline tycoon played by Paresh Rawal. However, his initial reaction is dismissive due to class and caste prejudices, but Vir remains undeterred. “I am the aam aadmi who is dreaming of flying with Rs 1 in his pocket,” he declares.
This reflects the film’s core message of breaking socio-economic barriers through innovation. Despite facing backlash from government officials and politicians, who criticize and reject his proposal, Vir continues to pursue his dream. Additionally, the trailer also features a cameo by actor Suriya.
Sarfira cast: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan & more
Alongside Akshay Kumar, Sarfira features a stellar ensemble cast. Paresh Rawal reprises his role from the Tamil original as Paresh Goswami, the skeptical industry tycoon. Radhika Madan plays Rani, a Maharashtrian girl, and Vir’s life partner. Akshay commended her performance, stating, “This is the best performance I have ever seen. She is not Maharashtrian, but she has acted like one. She is very well-spoken. Her language was very good and she has gone through whole classes to learn how to speak Marathi.”
Director Sudha Kongara comes back to the director’s chair in Sarfira, after helming the original film Soorarai Pottru. She revealed her initial challenges in directing Akshay Kumar, stating, “The first six days, he wasn’t happy. He was like, ‘What is this girl making me do all this rubbish?’” However, they eventually found a rhythm that worked, leading to a seamless collaboration.
Furthermore, for those unaware, Sarfira also marks Akshay Kumar’s 150th movie as a lead actor. He expressed his gratitude and excitement for the the same, stating, “This is my 150th film and it is my best film. I am very thankful to Sudha to give me this film and the opportunity to be in it.”
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) recently reportedly approved Sarfira with a U certification, ensuring it is suitable for all audiences. The film’s final runtime is 2 hours and 35 minutes, slightly longer than the Tamil version.
Ahead of its official release, Sarfira had special screenings for the CBFC and close circles in Delhi. The early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. One netizen tweeted, “#Sarfira is #Akshay’s career-best film. His performance brings tears to the eyes and ignites immense hope in the heart. #RadhikkaMadan, #SeemaBiswas, and #PareshRawal also deliver outstanding performances.”
As Sarfira approaches its release date, anticipation continues to build, promising an inspiring and compelling film. Stay tuned for more updates.
