Randeep Hooda to play real life character once again in and as Sultana Daku

The film will go on floor in April 2018 and will follow the exploits of the swashbuckling dacoit from the Bhantu clan who terrorised the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand) in the 1920s.

Producer Rahul Mittra, who purchased the rights to the book with co-producer and presenter Raju Chadha, says, "The film will be shot in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and Randeep, who is a champion horseman and rider, will film the extensive action and racing sequences in Kazakistan, where real locations will pass off as North India from the '20s."

The makers are keen to give the film a contemporary spin. "The approach to the film will not be dark and gory and more like a superhero-drama, where Robin Hood Randeep's character takes from the rich and gives to the poor as India fights for freedom," Mittra added.

Sultana was a dashing dacoit who named his horse Chetak, after Maharana Pratap's horse and operated on a code of honour.

When he was captured by the British, officer Freddie Young tried his hardest to have Sultana pardoned but to no avail. Sultana then asked Young to raise his son as a 'sahib' before he was sent to the gallows on July 7, 1924.

Randeep has earlier portrayed real life characters of Raja Ravi Verma, Charles Sobraj, Sarbjit and Jeet Johar in Beeba Boys.