It’s a dream project for Sanjay Dutt and producer Nikhil Nanda, who aim to explore the ideologies of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) through their film Aakhri Sawal. The makers have wrapped up a seven-day shoot, which will be followed by a start-to-finish schedule from January 6th to 26th in Kolkata and Mumbai. Nanda hopes to “wrap the film up and release it before October 2026, which is the centenary year of the RSS.”
Directed by National Award-winner Abhijeet Mohan Warang, Aakhri Sawal focuses on the story of a research scholar and his professor as they discuss and debate culture, politics, ideologies, and more. The film also stars Amit Sadh, Sameera Reddy, Neetu Chandra, Tridha Choudhary, and Namashi Chakraborty.
Nikhil Nanda
Nanda, who has funded the project using personal resources, says the film is “his guru dakhshina” to the organisation where he has served for the last 40 years. “It is the only organisation which is not externally funded. In fact, the people and swayamsevaks work for it, [but we are not allowed to] publicise it. The idea is to [keep doing] good work without propaganda,” says the producer.
He believes it is the right way to address the questions people have about the RSS. “A lot of things are said about the sangh, but no one comes out to defend themselves. The film is the answer to most of the questions in a factual way. [We referenced] snippets from history books, authorised letters, and minutes stored in the various archives of the government. It took us a year to complete the script. Our research paper is almost 1100 pages of a written book, which has all the references in detail,” explains Nanda.
When asked if the subject would get too preachy or present a polarised view, he said, “We are not saying what is right or wrong or making it preachy. It is a full-blown Bollywood movie shown in contemporary times.”
The big reunion
Sameera Reddy
‘Aakhri Sawal’ marks Sameera Reddy’s return to the movies. She was last seen in the Kannada film ‘Varadhanayaka’ (2013) and had a dated release in ‘Naam’ (2024). Reddy and Sanjay Dutt have worked together in three films — ‘Maine Dil Tujhko Diya’ (2002), ‘Plan’ (2004), and ‘Musafir’ (2004). “It is wonderful to come back on screen with someone I have worked with so often. I had taken a massive break since 2013, but I love the script of ‘Aakhri Sawal’. It is exciting, powerful, and well-written. I play a professor in psychology in the current political scenario of 2025,” she shares.
