‘Sarbjit’, a story that needs to be told: Jackky Bhagnani

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) Actor Jackky Bhagnani, who is making a foray into film production with a new division for his home banner Pooja Films Entertainment Ltd., says it's a "meaningful" movie based on a story that needs to be told.

"I believe there are some stories that need to be told and Sarbjit is definitely one of them. I have been meaning to carve out a niche within Pooja Films for meaningful cinema for a while now, and when Omung Sir narrated the story of Sarbjit, I knew we had found that story," Jackky said in a statement.

"Sarbjit" is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted in Pakistan on charges of terrorism and spying and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates in a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.

Jackky had kept his association with the film under wraps and it's only when the second poster of "Sarbjit" was released digitally on Wednesday that many in the film industry learnt about his move to take Pooja Films into the biopic and meaningful cinema space.

Social media was abuzz with industry friends and others wishing the young actor on his new role. Filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted: "Congratulations Jackky Bhagnani, can't wait to see this true story unfold". Among the others congratulating the actor-producer were Riteish Deshmukh, Dia Mirza, Atul Kasbekar and Raj Kundra.

"Sarbjit" director Omung Kumar reminisced about how the two got together to bring the film into being.

"My association with Jackky goes back a long way when we started our careers - me as a director, and Jackky as an actor. Now we are associated together with our film 'Sarbjit' as producer and director. I knew him as a kid who would be on his father’s sets and I see him now as this bright and promising young actor."