Actress Janhvi Kapoor has commenced shooting for her next film, Kargil Girl, to be produced by Dharma Productions.
Kargil Girl is based on the life of Gunjan Saxena, the woman air force pilot who was part of the Kargil war of 1999.
The film is being helmed by first-time director Sharan Sharma. Apart from Kapoor, the film stars Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi and Ayesha Raza.
A source close to one of the three artistes informed Cinestaan.com, “Janhvi and the others have begun filming in Lucknow. This schedule will wrap up after a week. This is a biopic of Kargil hero Gunjan Saxena.”
Saxena was one of two women (the other being Srividya Rajan) combat aviators who saw action in the Kargil war. Saxena and Srividya were among the 25 women who formed the first batch of women Indian Air force (IAF) trainee pilots in 1994.
Saxena and Srividya were pressed into service during the Kargil war to help out the Indian soldiers on the ground, provide medical aid and food supplies and carry off the injured.
Saxena and Srividya showed great bravery as they entered enemy territory in their Cheetah helicopters and managed to evade missiles. Saxena and Srividya flew 80 sorties during the dangerous operation.
Saxena was later honoured with the Shaurya Chakra. Saxena's father and brother serve in the Indian army.
Sharma makes his debut as a director with Kargil Girl. Sharma was a creative director on Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) and assistant director on Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013).
Kapoor made her debut last year with Dhadak.