In 2019 , Kaushal starred as a military officer in '' Uri : The Surgical Strike '' , an action film based on the 2016 Uri attack , directed by Aditya Dhar and filmed in Serbia . To prepare , he gained muscle weight , practiced a ketogenic diet , and underwent five months of military training and mixed martial arts sessions . He injured his arm while filming an action sequence in it . Uday Bhatia of '' Mint '' found Kaushal to be a " fetching stoic lead " but bemoaned the lack of depth in his character . Rajeev Masand took note of the film 's jingoism and criticised the over-the-top characterisations , but opined that Kaushal " brings both the bulked-up physicality and the sort of steely determination that the part requires " . '' Uri '' earned in India , and over worldwide , making it the tenth highest-grossing Indian film domestically
2016 Uri attack
2016 Uri attack
Vicky Kaushal