Bollywood icon Salman Khan is set to star in an upcoming film depicting the harrowing events of the terror attacks on 3 November 1988, in Malé, Maldives. Khan, who has recently been seen sporting a fresh look and hairstyle, is now on a regimen to mould his body into tip-top military shape, the Hindustan Times reports.
The film adaptation will be helmed by Vishnu Vardhan, a director known for his combat action films. Khan and Vardhan are looking to rope in a non-Bollywood actress, with South Indian actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu as as a potential choice for the lead role, according to the Indian news outlet. With the screenplay nearing completion, principal photography is slated to commence in January 2024.
The film will recount the events of 3 November 1988, locally referred to as ‘Badi Buraasfathi’ or ‘Gun [Explosive] Thursday.’ This day marked an attempted coup d’état against then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. A faction of armed mercenaries from the Sri Lankan Tamil secessionist organisation, the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), under the direction of a few Maldivians, sought to seize control of Malé, the nation’s capital.
The coup was thwarted with the aid of the Indian military in an operation known as ‘Operation Cactus.’ The Indian Air Force secured Hulhulé Island’s airport, a mere 10-minute ferry ride from Malé. This initial action was later reinforced by warships, culminating in a total Indian troop contingent of 1,400 that successfully helped quell the coup. In the cinematic retelling, Khan will be seen leading the mission.
Victory Day, observed annually on 3 November, serves as a solemn reminder of these events, pays tribute to the brave heroes, and commemorates the sacrifices made on that fateful day, including those of eight Maldivian soldiers.