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Kesari (film)

Kesari is a 2019 Indian Hindi-language historical war film directed by Anurag Singh and starring Akshay Kumar, with Parineeti Chopra in a supporting role.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kesari is a 2019 Indian Hindi-language historical war film directed by Anurag Singh and starring Akshay Kumar, with Parineeti Chopra in a supporting role. It is based on the Battle of Saragarhi in 1897, when 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment fought a much larger force of Pashtun tribesmen.

Plot basis

The film is inspired by the Battle of Saragarhi, a historical last stand in which a small Sikh unit defended a frontier post against a far larger attacking force.

Production

Kesari was directed by Anurag Singh and produced by several Indian production companies, including Dharma Productions and Cape of Good Films.

Release

The film premiered in Indian theatres on 21 March 2019 and later became available on streaming platforms.

Reception and genre

Kesari is classified as a Hindi-language action-war or historical drama film, and sources describe it as a dramatization of a real military event.

Key facts

  • Kesari was released theatrically on 21 March 2019.
  • The film depicts the Battle of Saragarhi, fought in 1897 by 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikhs Regiment.
  • Akshay Kumar plays the lead role in the film, and Parineeti Chopra appears in a supporting role.
  • Anurag Singh directed the film and also co-wrote it.
  • The film was produced by Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, Azure Entertainment, and Zee Studios.
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Canadian context

Kesari has been available to Canadian audiences through international streaming and film distribution channels, and it may be of interest to viewers following South Asian cinema in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kesari about?
It is a historical war film about the Battle of Saragarhi in 1897, focusing on 21 Sikh soldiers defending a post against a much larger force.
Who directed Kesari?
Kesari was directed by Anurag Singh.
Who stars in Kesari?
The film stars Akshay Kumar, with Parineeti Chopra in a supporting role.
When was Kesari released?
It was released in theatres on 21 March 2019.
What language is Kesari in?
Kesari is a Hindi-language film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesari_(2019_film)
    Supports: Film title, year, language, director, premise based on the Battle of Saragarhi.
  2. Filmibeat — https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/kesari-2019-akshay-kumar.html
    Supports: Release date, runtime, cast, director, genre.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6264938/
    Supports: Film premise based on the Battle of Saragarhi.
  4. Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Kesari?id=1CCD4502EBF030D2MV&hl=hi
    Supports: Director, writers, production companies, language.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kesari
    Supports: Director, producers, genre, language, theatrical release date, runtime.