Is Randeep Hooda Celebrating 25 Years of Operation Khukri?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Operation Khukri took place in Sierra Leone in 2000.
- It involved a successful rescue of 233 Indian soldiers.
- Randeep Hooda is producing a film based on this operation.
- The operation marked a significant achievement for Indian peacekeeping forces.
- It is celebrated as one of the most successful UN missions.
Mumbai, July 16 (NationPress) On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Operation Khukri, actor and filmmaker Randeep Hooda commemorated the event, describing it as one of the most remarkable UN operations in history and a source of pride for all Indians.
Randeep posted on Instagram, sharing a photo of military personnel, stating: “On 15 July 2025, we mark the Silver Jubilee of a distinct operation in which 232 Indian soldiers and UN observers successfully broke free from a 75-day siege surrounded by thousands of rebel RUF fighters.”
He emphasized: “The Indian Army executed a breakout and rescue operation that effectively dismantled the rebel forces, bringing lasting peace to the conflict-ridden nation of Sierra Leone. This is regarded as one of the most successful UN operations ever, making it a proud moment for all of us Indians. It was termed ‘Operation Khukri’!”
Randeep is gearing up to feature in a military epic inspired by Operation Khukri and has acquired the film rights to a military bestseller.
He has obtained the official movie rights to “Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army’s Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad” written by Major General Rajpal Punia and Damini Punia, setting the stage for his next significant project, a military drama that depicts one of the Indian Army’s most daring operations on foreign soil.
The film “Operation Khukri” will portray the gripping real-life events from 2000, when 233 Indian soldiers were taken hostage by rebel forces in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and the ensuing high-stakes rescue mission.
The actor will depict Major General Raj Pal Punia, then a young Company Commander of the 14th Mechanised Infantry, who managed both the tense standoff and the extraordinary rescue operation amid challenging jungle warfare conditions.
The mission began as a peacekeeping initiative but evolved into a tense 75-day standoff that tested the resolve of the Indian contingent, who found themselves encircled without supplies in the hostile terrain of Kailahun.