Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 13, 2018)

Janhvi Kapoor, whose acting debut opposite Ishaan Khatter, the Shashank Khaitan-directed Dhadak released in July, signed her second Hindi film, the multi-starrer Takht, last month. Now, it has emerged that the 21-year-old actress’s third film will also be a Karan Johar production in which she will be seen in the role of Gunjan Saxena, one of India’s first female combat aviators to be posted in Kargil during the 1999 war.

A source from the film reveals, “Janhvi has already begun her prep and has met Gunjan to understand her story and observe her mannerisms. The film is expected to go on the floors sometime next year. While Karan is producing the film, a director is yet to be finalised.”

In 1994, Gunjan Saxena, along with Srividya Rajan, was one of the 25 young women who formed the first batch of women IAF trainee pilots. In 1999, Flight Lieutenant Saxena and Flight Lieutenant Srividya Rajan were summoned during the Kargil war to carry out medical evacuations, supply drops and spot Pakistani positions in the war zone. In their tiny Cheetah helicopters that were unarmed and defenceless to enemy attack, the two bravehearts continued flying in and out of the danger zone in North Kashmir.

For her outstanding show of courage in the war, Gunjan was awarded the Shaurya Vir, a gallantry honour for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct enemy combat. She was also the first woman to receive such an honour from the army.