Ankita Lokhande’s portrayal of Yamunabai in Randeep Hooda’s “Swatantrya Veer Savarkar” is earning her accolades, marking a significant moment in her career. The actor stars opposite Randeep in this epic drama. In a recent interview, Ankita was joined by her close friend and producer Sandeep Ssingh, who shared insights into their journey together.
Sandeep recounted how Ankita had been a pillar of support during a challenging phase of his career. He reminisced, “When I was collaborating with Mr. Bhansali as a CEO and co-producing projects like ‘Ram-Leela,’ ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ ‘Mary Kom,’ ‘Gabbar is Back,’ and ‘Rowdy Rathod,’ Ankita stood by me. Both she and Kangana were among the first to encourage me to step into the director’s shoes.” Sandeep continued, “Ankita pledged, ‘Sandeep, whenever you decide to make a film, I’ll be there to act in it.’ When I embarked on ‘Safed,’ I approached her, but unfortunately, she couldn’t join. However, our connection remained strong through it all.”
Detailing the circumstances surrounding Ankita’s involvement in “Swatantra Veer Savarkar,” Sandeep revealed, “When I secured the project, I was facing reluctance from many quarters due to personal challenges and media scrutiny. Without disclosing my struggles, I approached Ankita for the role of Yamunabai. Her response was unequivocal: ‘I have one condition—I won’t accept any payment for this film. I can never take money from you for any role.’ With that declaration, she became a part of all my future projects.”
Directed, co-written, and co-produced by Randeep Hooda, “Swatantra Veer Savarkar” is a collaborative effort involving Sandeep Ssingh, Anand Pandit, Zee Studios, and Yogesh Rahar. The film boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Amit Sial, Rajesh Khera, Lokesh Mittal, Brajesh Jha, Santosh Ojha, Rahul Kulkarni, Mrinal Dutt, Sanjay Sharma, Sal Uusuf, and others in pivotal roles. Released on March 22 in Hindi and Marathi, this period drama promises to leave a lasting impact on audiences.