Sporting black-rimmed glasses, a green khadi jacket and a Nehru cap, Emraan Hashmi looks almost unrecognisable in a never-before-seen avatar of a freedom fighter in his first-look poster from Dharmatic Entertainment and Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming patriotic film Ae Watan Mere Watan, dropped by the makers on Monday.

The film, headlined by Sara Ali Khan, revolves around a young freedom fighter Usha Rani who launches an underground radio station to mobilise the youth and unite the nation against colonial rule in the 1940s.

“Channelling the fearless voice of independence! 🎙 #AeWatanMereWatanOnPrime, Mar 21,” the streamer wrote on Instagram alongside the poster.

In the poster, Hashmi’s character looks determined in his fight against the colonial rule in India during the Quit India Movement of 1942. He clenches his fists while sloganeering, probably during a protest on the streets.

Soon after the post was shared, the 44-year-old actor took to his Instagram Stories and shared a picture of freedom activist Ram Manohar Lohia, hinting that he plays the role of the latter in the film. Lohia is known for working with the Congress Radio which was broadcast discreetly from several locations in Bombay until 1942.

Emraan is currently basking in the success of his latest Disney+ Hotstar drama series Showtime, in which he plays the role of an influential film producer, Raghu Khanna, who has worked day and night to turn his studio into a one-of-a-kind production house.

The series, which also stars Mouni Roy and Naseeruddin Shah, provides a sneak peek into the dark side of Bollywood, laced with stories of nepotism and changing power dynamics.

Produced by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta, Ae Watan Mere Watan is directed by Daud and Ek thi Daayan helmer Kannan Iyer. Also featuring Laapataa Ladies actor Sparsh Shrivastava and American actors Richard Bhakti Klein and Alexx O'Nell, the film is slated to premiere on Prime Video on March 21.