Indian Air Force combat pilot Gunjan Saxena's upcoming biopic "The Kargil Girl", starring Janhvi Kapoor in the titular role, will hit the screens on March 13 next year.
Karan Johar, who produces the project, took to social media on Thursday and unveiled the official posters of the film.
"With unabashed courage and bravery, she made her domain in a man's world. Gunjan Saxena - 'The Kargil Girl', releasing on March 13, 2020," Karan captioned the poster.
👏👏👏 Sky is not the limit. You must go beyond. Proud of your beta. #KargilGirl #JanhviKapoor pic.twitter.com/rypleCxSBZ
— Boney Kapoor (@BoneyKapoor) August 29, 2019
You will make all Father's proud of their daughters. #KargilGirl #JanhviKapoor pic.twitter.com/ZP6PA2W1tk
— Boney Kapoor (@BoneyKapoor) August 29, 2019
Janhvi will be portraying Saxena, who entered the war zone during the 1999 Kargil War, and in the poster, the actress is seen in her uniform, walking among a crowd of male colleagues who are clapping.
Janhvi too shared a couple of posters of the film. In one poster, she is seen hugging her co-star Pankaj Tripathi, who plays her father.
"Meri beti ki udaan koi nahin rok sakta (no one can stop my daughter from flying high)," the poster reads.
Inspired by the story, Bollywood is making a film on Gunjan Saxena's journey. The film, titled "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl," is scheduled to release on March 13 next year. The first posters of the film were shared by actor Janhvi Kapoor, who plays the protagonist in the film, today.
In 1999, at the height of the Kargil War, the two pilots flew the Cheetah helicopters through an area where Pakistani soldiers fired bullets and missiles at virtually any Indian helicopter or aircraft that they could spot.
One of their missions was reconnaissance for which they often flew very close to Pakistani positions. Cheetah Helicopter is used by the Air Force for operations over a very wide range of altitude conditions. The pilots were also tasked with casualty evacuations.
After three flying officers were commissioned as India's first three women fighter pilots, Gunjan Saxena had said missions where she evacuated injured Indian Army soldiers were her biggest motivation during Kargil.
"I think it is the ultimate feeling that you can ever have as a helicopter pilot. That was one of our main roles there - casualty evacuation. I would say it's a very satisfying feeling when you save a life because that is what you're there for," she had said.
Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena served as a short service commissioned officer and didn't quite have the opportunities that women in Air Force have today. Her tenure ended after seven years, but women in the air force can now get a permanent commission.
"The Kargil Girl", directed by Sharan Sharma, also features actor Angad Bedi.