Randeep Hooda acquires film rights to war drama 'Operation Khukri'

Mumbai, May 20: Following the success of his recent film Jaat, actor Randeep Hooda has taken on a new challenge by acquiring the film rights to Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army's Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad. The book, written by Major General Rajpal Punia and Damini Punia, details one of the Indian Army’s most daring overseas missions and was originally published by Penguin Random House, as reported by Variety.

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The upcoming film, titled Operation Khukri, will chronicle the dramatic real-life events of the year 2000, when 233 Indian soldiers were held hostage by rebel forces in Sierra Leone, West Africa. What began as a peacekeeping mission quickly escalated into a 75-day siege, pushing the Indian troops to the brink in the treacherous jungle terrain of Kailahun.

Hooda is set to portray Major General Rajpal Punia, who at the time was a young Company Commander in the 14th Mechanised Infantry. The film will follow his leadership during the tense standoff and the high-risk rescue mission that ensued—a bold counteroffensive that is now remembered as one of the most successful operations in Indian military history.

The project is being jointly produced by Rahul Mittra Films and Randeep Hooda Films, which have secured exclusive adaptation rights to the bestseller. The book offers a gripping, first-hand account of the mission from Major General Punia himself, promising a deeply authentic retelling of this extraordinary military episode.