Akshay Kumar in Deepa Mehta's 'Komagata Maru'

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar will play the lead role in Deepa Mehta's upcoming project 'Komagata Maru' which is based on a true-life voyage of an ill-fated passenger ship from India to Vancouver.
Hundreds of Indian passengers who boarded the 'Komagata Maru' ship in 1914 on a voyage to Vancouver were not allowed to enter Canada on discriminatory grounds.
The Dominion government did not permit passengers to disembark due to racist immigration laws and the vessel remained docked at the harbour for two months.
The ship was later forcibly sent back to India where the British police allegedly shot dead many passengers in Kolkata.
According to Mehta, the proposed film will highlight high level Canadian government intrigue, duplicity, racism, spying, military engagements, court battles, sedition and assassination.
"This is an extremely important opportunity for me to reveal a significant moment in Canadian history and illustrate the steadfast bravery of the Sikh community who sacrificed so much to help create a more tolerant community within my adopted country," said Mehta in a statement.
Mehta originally intended Amitabh Bachchan to topline the USD 30 million drama, but had to back down because Bachchan didn't have the Canadian citizenship. 'Komagata Maru' is a government financed picture and requires a local lead as per the Canadian norms.
Kumar, who has a permanent resident status of Canada, stepped in to play the role of Gurdit Singh, a Sikh lawyer who represented the 376 passengers aboard the ship.
"I am not used to working with Oscar nominated directors so it is a great privilege for me to work with Deepa Mehta. The subject of this film has moved me, as it is a true representation and a testimony to human struggle for freedom, justice and equality. I want to portray this real life tragedy to the world identifying how injustice was done to innocent people," Akshay said.
"It's an honour for me to play one of the bravest Sikhs, Gurdit Singh, in this tragic forgotten moment in history. I salute those brave souls who sacrificed their lives for justice and equality", he said.
Hamilton-Mehta productions will produce the Canadian drama in association with Kumar's production, 'Hari Om' Entertainment. The shooting for the film will begin in September 2009.