FILM · 2016 · INDIA
Sarbjit
22 archived facts 2 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (22)
- #001
Aishwarya Rai and Randeep Hooda said yes to director Omung Kumar for the film within 15 minutes of hearing the narration.
- #002
Sarbjit's real-life sister Dalbir Kaur had sought help from Salman Khan for Sarbjit's case because he has a good fan following in Pakistan. This could not be part of the film because Salman Khan's ex-girlfriend played the role of Dalbir Kaur.
- #003
Aishwarya Rai and Randeep Hooda are working together for the first time.
- #004
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan chose not to meet Dalbir Kaur before the shooting of Sarbjit.
- #005
Omung Kumar's second film as a director was Mary Kom (2014), which was also a biographical film.
- #006
It is Jacky Bhagnani's first film as a producer.
- #007
Randeep Hooda was very nervous about working with Aishwarya Rai.
- #008
Aishwarya Rai plays a character who ages from her 20s to her 60s.
- #009
Omung Kumar's wife, Vanita Kumar, was the film's production designer and created the Pakistan prison at Palghar fort, since shooting in the country was difficult for various reasons. Pakistan's prisons are very different: they are very large and have big areas, and the walls are like a fort. So they again went to Palghar fort, which has these Islamic arches, and thus built the entire prison at Palghar.
- #010
Omung Kumar was questioned about casting Aishwarya Rai as Dalbir Kaur since she does not resemble her. He said it is the character's story and that resemblance was not the point.
- #011
The team could not get permission to shoot at the Wagah border and struggled a great deal for it. After the team asked her for help, Aishwarya Rai contacted some ministry officials to obtain the permission.
- #012
Dalbir Kaur said Aishwarya Rai is perfect to play her in the film.
- #013
It is Randeep Hooda's third biopic after Main Aur Charles (2015) and Rang Rasiya.
- #014
Randeep Hooda lost 18 kilos in 28 days to prepare for his role.
- #015
The Pakistan prison shown in the film was actually shot at Palghar fort in Maharashtra.
- #016
On 18 March 2016, the film's shooting was halted for more than four hours and producer Zafar Mehdi was arrested for hurting national sentiments while shooting a rally scene featuring anti-India slogans in Urdu. Local residents in Bhendi Bazaar did not take well to the scene and filed a complaint against the producers. However, police officials released Zafar Mehdi because they had valid permits for the film's shooting.
- #017
The rally scenes promoting the release of Sarbjit show Sarbjit's original photographs, not actor Randeep Hooda.
- #018
Dalbir Kaur said that many people wanted to make a film about Sarbjit in order to spark a movement while he was in prison and perhaps pressure the government to help secure his release.
- #019
Preparing for his role, Randeep Hooda met Sarbjit's sister Dalbir Kaur and the two formed a bond. Around the film's release, Dalbir Kaur told Randeep Hooda that she saw her brother Sarbjit in him and that he should perform her brother's last rites when he passed away. Six years after the film's release, Dalbir Kaur died of a heart attack on 25 June 2022, and Randeep Hooda kept his word by performing the final rites, giving his shoulder (Khanda) during the ceremonies.
- #020
The film was released in cinemas in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
- #021
When the project was first announced in 2013, Subhash Ghai was to produce the film under the direction of Ishwar Singh Muchhal. The project later changed hands.
- #022
Actress Kangana Ranaut was reported to have held talks for the role of Dalbir, but the producers said they had not yet finalized an actress.
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