Janhvi Kapoor’s new role as India’s 1st combat pilot

Janhvi Kapoor, who made her debut with Shashank Khaitan’s directorial Dhadak has started preparations for her next film which is a biopic. Janhvi will be seen in this Karan Johar’s production which tells the story of India’s first female combat aviators, Gunjan Saxena. Posted in Kargil during the 1999 war, Gunjan evacuated injured soldiers from the war field, flying through Kashmir. She also experienced a brush with death during the war. Follow Spotlife Asia for the latest Entertainment and Lifestyle news.

Saxena along with her colleague Srividya Rajan, were part of the first female batch of 25 Indian Air Force trainee pilots in 1994. During the 1999 war, Flight Lieutenant Saxena and Flight Lieutenant Srividya Rajan were called on duty to Kargil. Their responsibilities included carrying out medical evacuations, dropping supplies and identifying Pakistani positions on the war zone. They flew small Cheetah helicopters and were completely defenceless and unarmed while traversing enemy territories.

Her remarkable contribution during the war earned her a Shaurya Vir, a gallantry honour for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct enemy combat. She was the first woman to have received the honour from the army.

Production of the film is expected to start in early 2019.