Hotel Mumbai is a new thriller but one with a basis in horrifying and tragic true events.
The new film stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, and Jason Isaacs in the tale of when terror strikes in the heart of Mumbai, India, as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba storm the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in a series of coordinated attacks throughout the city.
Amid the gunfire and mayhem, a brave chef and kitchen worker decide to risk their own lives to try and protect the frightened guests. As the militants continue their assault on the hotel, a desperate couple must do whatever they can to protect their newborn baby.
But how much of the tale is true?
Here is the distressing true story behind the new Sky Cinema Original film Hotel Mumbai.
The true story behind Hotel Mumbai
The setting and events of Hotel Mumbai are based on historical fact surrounding the 2008 attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India.
On November 26, 2008, a Pakistani-based terrorist group named Lashkar-e-Taiba sent ten men in a dinghy to Mumbai, India, armed with assault rifles, grenades and other explosives.
The group came ashore and slipped into the city and spread across its breadth before leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, ultimately killing around 170 people.
The attack on the hotel was planned using information compiled by a Pakistani-American named David Headley, who now resides in a US prison.
From November 26 to November 29, the five-star Taj Mahal Hotel came under siege, leaving the guests and staff stranded inside while security forces attempted to prevent harm.
The group of people inside the hotel had to fend for themselves as they waited for further elite forces to arrive in Mumbai from Delhi.
As attackers stormed the building, guests had to hide under tables and ensure lights were off to prevent giving their presence away.
Six explosions were reported at the hotel - one in the lobby, two in elevators, three in a restaurant and one at the hotel Oberoi Trident.
200 managed to escape in the first night of the attack thanks to firefighters, exiting through windows.
A hostage situation developed inside the hotel, including staff and guests, with ultimately at least 31 people being killed during the attacks.
Many were killed through shootings, fires and explosions, with some having been hostages.
The siege did not end until the morning of November 29, when Indian commandos arrived and killed the gunmen barricading the hotel.
Are all the Hotel Mumbai characters real people?
The character of waiter Arjun is a fictional amalgamation of multiple real people, with TIME reporting that some of his selfless actions are based on real events, originating with a real-life waiter and a security guard from the hotel.
Meanwhile, the couple David and Zahra are based on two different couples who faced similar predicaments.
Russian businessman Vasili is also an amalgamation of the two figures of a wealthy businessman and a former special forces operative.
However, the executive chef, Hermant Oberoi (played by Anupam Kher), is a national celebrity in India and his character is entirely based on the real-life figure.
Hotel Mumbai is released in UK and Irish cinemas and on Sky Cinema and NOW TV on September 27, 2019.
