Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal penned a heartfelt note and posted a picture with filmmaker Meghna Gulzar on January 20, recalling how badly he wanted to play Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw in the director’s Sam Bahadur.

The Sam Maneckshaw biopic would be Vicky’s second film with Meghna as they had earlier teamed up for the spy-thriller Raazi, also starring Alia Bhatt, which shot him to instant fame.

Taking to Instagram, Vicky recalled how he had wanted to play the lead role in the director’s next project as he got to know all about it during the shooting of Raazi. “6 years ago, in 2017, while Shooting for ‘Raazi’ here in Punjab, on this very terrace… @meghnagulzar briefly mentioned #SamBahadur for the first time, as one of her future projects. Quietly in my heart, I sent out a wish to the universe… to one day be considered for the role…Today… sitting on the same terrace with Meghna, as we are set for an all-nighter, shooting for a beautiful episode from Sam’s life. Living Sam is probably the most magical journey I’m on as an Actor.”

Sam Bahadur, which also stars Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra, is a biopic based on the life of India's first field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw. Set for a December 1 release, the last schedule of the film is currently being shot in Punjab.