Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur
Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur at Jagran Film FestivalVarinder Chawla

Akshay Kumar, who is riding high with the success of his latest outing, "Baby", has already started shooting for his next, "Airlift".

Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, "Airlift" is inspired by real life events and is set during the Gulf war of 1990. The film will revolve around the evacuation of 1,70,000 Indians trapped in Kuwait during the war, the biggest ever human evacuation in the history of mankind.

"Airlift" has Kumar play Ranjit Katyal, the wealthy Indian Businessman, who masterminds and leads this operation against all odds and successfully evacuate the Indians from war-torn Kuwait. Nimrat Kaur of "The Lunchbox" fame, will be seen essaying the role of Kumar's wife, who enjoys a privileged life in a luxurious mansion. 

The film started rolling the cameras in Mumbai last week. In the first-look poster released soon after, Kaur is seen seated besides her on-screen husband Kumar. The couple looks royal and wealthy while posing in an Arabian-styled mansion. 

The film will also be shot in Ras al Khaimah and Bhuj and other such locations to resemble the era that the film is set in.

Kumar, who has recently wrapped up Karan Johar's "Brothers" alongside Sidharth Malhotra, is excited with the unique story of "Airlift".

"I have fallen in love with Airlift and its unique story. Rarely, does one come across a story that has such unique and universal appeal. I am very excited and happy that the film has kicked-off in Mumbai," Kumar told The Times of India.

Producer Bhushan Kumar, who is teaming up with the "Khiladi" actor after "Baby", told the daily: "It is great working with this team again. I have really liked the script and the actors Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur perfectly fit into the characters." 

Kaur shared the first-look of "Airlift" in her Twitter account:

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