Sooraj Pancholi made a promising return to the big screen with the historical war drama ‘Kesari Veer’, in which he portrayed the role of an unsung warrior, Veer Hamirji Gohil. His performance was both believable and engaging.
Recently, he shared the story of how he was offered the role in ‘Kesari Veer’. He revealed that the opportunity came after his visit to the Somnath temple and mentioned that many of his personal difficulties seemed to vanish within a week of his return from the temple.
Reflecting on his visit, Sooraj said, “I wasn’t aware of anything regarding this film. I didn’t know about Hamirji Gohil, nor did I realise that the Somnath temple is the first Jyotirlinga. My mother had suggested that I visit Somnath, and I agreed to go with my family. I saw a huge statue outside the temple of a warrior sitting on a horse. I asked someone about the statue and learned that it represents Hamirji Gohil, who defended the Somnath temple.”
Sooraj completed the film’s shoot in just 70 days and described how his life shifted after his visit to the temple. He added, “You wouldn’t believe it, but all my difficulties vanished within a week of returning to Bombay. This is a fact. In that time, Mr. Kanu Chauhan visited me with the script for ‘Kesari Veer’. Somnath is a very powerful temple; it truly changed my life. I also did a film called ‘Satellite Shankar’, where I played a devotee of Shiva, and in ‘Kesari Veer’, I played a similar role. I believe this was meant to happen.”
In ‘Kesari Veer’, Sooraj Pancholi starred alongside Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, and Akanksha Sharma for the first time. As Hamirji Gohil, he brought a powerful blend of intensity and courage to his role, making it both authentic and relatable. His efforts were met with positive reviews from both the audience and critics.
Now that Sooraj Pancholi has made a compelling return to the screens, audiences are eager to see more of his on-screen explorations in the near future.