Aamir Khan had a great 2016 with his Dangal walking away with many awards and becoming one of the highest grossing Bollywood movie ever. In his next movie, Aamir Khan is reportedly set to play the role of Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to fly into space.

The film was initially titled ‘Saare Jahaan Se Achha’, Rakesh Sharma’s response to the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi’s question asking how India looked from outer space. The makers, however, have changed the title to ‘Salute’.

Rakesh Sharma, AC, Hero of the Soviet Union, (born 13 January 1949) is a former Indian Air Force pilot who flew aboard Soyuz T-11, launched April 2, 1984, as part of the Intercosmos programme. Sharma was the first Indian to travel in space.

Rakesh Sharma was born on 13 January 1949 in Patiala, Punjab, India. He attended St. Georges Grammar School, Hyderabad. He graduated from Nizam College. He joined the Air Force as a cadet in 1966 at the age of 18. Thereafter, he was admitted to the National Defense Academy as an Air Force plebe in July 1966. Rakesh proved to be a focused and dedicated student and by 1970, he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force to become a pilot.

He was conferred with the honour of the Hero of the Soviet Union upon his return from space. The Republic of India conferred its highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra on him and the other two Soviet members of his mission, Malyshev and Strekalov.

The film, reportedly co-produced by Aamir and Siddharth Roy Kapur and will be directed by Mahesh Mathai. It will release in 2018.