Soul-stirring tell-all biopic on Sarabjit Singh's life; Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai in main roles

Bengaluru, May 27: It has been more than three years since Sarabjit Singh, a farmer from Bhikhiwind village of Tarn Taran district of Punjab, who did not commit any crime but languished in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan for 22 years, passed away on May 2, 2013.

Sarabjit Singh's elder sister, 61-year-old Dalbir Kaur spent more than 20 years of her life, hoping for her brother's release from Pakistani prison. Her fight not only caught the attention of the entire nation but also inspired filmmakers to make a film on Sarabjit Singh's life, a life that he hardly got to live. [Sarabjit Singh's killing handiwork of ISI: Former Indian spy]

In an interview with TOI, Dalbir said that she wants everyone to know about her brother's life, through a biopic. [2 charged with Sarabjit's murder in Pakistan]

It has been reported that Omung Kumar, the national award-winning director of Mary Kom, will direct the film.

Dalbir said that her brother was mistaken as one Manjit Singh, who was allegedly behind four bomb blasts.

When Dalbir met Sarabjit for the first time after his detention

She said that after his arrest, she, along with Sarbajit's wife and two daughters, met him for the first time on April 23, 2008 in the jail.

She recalled that when she met him for 48 minutes, Sarabjit had prepared tea for them and he had requested jail authorities to provide water, cold drink and ingredients required to prepare tea, so that he can serve his family members.

She revealed that Sarabjit was not given proper medicines and after a lot of struggle, he was given broken eyeglasses, as with time, his eyesight had become weak.

On that day, she also tied rakhi to Sarabjit and gave him barfi, but he had tears in his eyes as he could not offer anything to his sister.

'He lived in a tiny room'

On being asked about how Sarabjit lived, she said that he spent 22 years of his life in a tiny room, where he could hardly stand, with tall walls and big lock outside his door.

There was no fan in his room and was given a small pot of water, in which he had to manage for the entire day.

Second meeting in 2011

Dalbir said that Sarabjit told about the ordeal he went through in past many years. He also told her about a diary in which he used to write all the details of what happened with him in so many years, but unfortunately, that diary was not given to Dalbir after his death. [Pakistan returns Sarabjit's personal belongings]

It seems that he had also lost the hope of his release, as Dalbir described his words. During her visit, she met Sarabjit for the third time, when he served her Lassi.

Dalbir also said that many times, her hopes of bringing back her brother, who was more like a son to her, were shattered by many people, who cheated her family and never presented Sarabjit's case in proper manner in the Pakistani court.

Sarabjit's death- End of all hopes

She said Sarabjit's death ended all her hopes, her long wait to see her brother back at home and she realised that she has lost him forever. [Murder trial of Sarabjit Singh starts in Pakistan]

While saying that she can never forget Sarabjit, she said that she wants "people to know who he actually was. What happened with Sarabjit inside jail? What happens to Indians inside Pakistani jails?" [Sarabjit Singh dies in Lahore hospital]

Sarabjit's story shocked and surprised me: Omung Kumar

"The story of Sarabjit Singh, his sister...Her struggle for 23 years to get her brother out of jail was something that interested me. I read the story, saw videos and it just shocked...Surprised me," Kumar said. [Pak police slaps murder charges against Sarabjit's attackers]

"A lady from small town made it possible to get her brother out of jail, but destiny had something else in store for him," he said.

The film is produced by writer-actor-turned-producer Zeishan Quadri and went on floors in October 2015. It was shot majorly in Punjab. The film released on Friday, May 20, 2016.

Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan play Sarabjit Singh & Dalbir Kaur's role

Talented Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was roped in to play the role of Dalbir Kaur in the biopic titled "Sarbjit" which is directed by Omung Kumar. [Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in legal trouble]

On Wednesday, June 24, Omung Kumar confirmed that Randeep Hooda will play Sarabjit's role in the upcoming biopic on the late Indian prisoner. [Randeep Hooda's Look From Aishwarya Rai's Sarbjit Will Give You Goosebumps]

Aishwarya and @RandeepHooda in my next film SARBJIT coming soon pic.twitter.com/3jEA6isNTo

— Omung Kumar (@OmungKumar) June 23, 2015

In 1990, Sarabjit had mistakenly crossed over the Indian border and reached Pakistan in an inebriated state, where he was mistaken as an Indian spy.

On August 15, 1991, he was given death sentence but was never hanged. In April 2013, some inmates attacked him, that led to his death on May 2, 2013 at a hospital in Lahore. [Truth about Sarabjit's death must come out: Modi]

Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who had launched an online petition asking for Sarabjit Singh's freedom in 2012, also mourned his death.

Before his death, a book called 'Sarbajit Singh: A Case of Mistaken Identity', written by his lawyer Awais Sheikh, was released in India on Jan 15, 2013. [Pakistan didn't heed India's pleas: Dr Manmohan Singh]

Watch the trailer here:

From 94 kg of #DLKK to 66 kg for #Sarbjit.. It's been a roller coaster ride in the same year .. Pls enjoy ur food :) pic.twitter.com/FXhOgUBMox

— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) February 5, 2016

Thank u, trying my best https://t.co/nVZaejr4Hs

— Omung Kumar (@OmungKumar) February 5, 2016

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