Vishal Batra, with his wife Dr Apara Sharma and daughter Aadya at Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s wedding reception

Captain Vikram Batra sacrificed his life on the battlefield during the Kargil War in 1999 at the age of 24. His death left his love story with the love of his life, Dimple Cheema, incomplete. In a strange twist of fate, the actors who essayed their parts on the screen in Shershaah (Captain Vikram Batra’s biopic) — Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani — tied the knot recently. Captain Vikram Batra’s twin brother Vishal Batra, along with his wife, Dr Apara Sharma and daughter Aadya, graced the reception in Mumbai.

During the making of Shershaah, Sidharth and Vishal became friends, and the latter says that he experienced a gamut of emotions when he attended Sidharth and Kiara’s wedding celebrations. “I met Sidharth in December 2015 when the idea of the movie came up. We have been in touch regularly despite the fact that the movie released two years ago, and he is a good friend now. It was lovely of him to invite us. For me, it was also a feeling that I couldn’t see Vikram’s wedding… It took me through various emotions, and being an identical twin, it’s something that can’t be explained in words. We got a message from Kiara, too, saying they are looking forward to us attending the wedding,” says Vishal.

Ask Vishal whether he was aware of the wedding plans, and he says, “I never spoke to Sidharth about it. Shabbir bhai (Shabbir Boxwala, co-producer of Shershaah) did tell me they were planning to get married. I think they got closer because of the movie, and I am very happy they got married. The real Vikram and Dimple could not get married, but the reel Vikram and Dimple have, and that is a lovely feeling. Our blessings are with them. They are a lovely couple. They are two wonderful individuals, and I have never interacted with them as stars. Recently, Sidharth even called me and asked me to attend the trailer launch of Mission Majnu in Delhi. He said, ‘I want you here with me’. It’s a brotherly feeling; otherwise, why do I need to be there for the launch.”

On her wedding day, Kiara walked to the mandap to the tune of the track Ranjha from Shershaah, which was specially rewritten for the special moment. Getting emotional, several people on social media commented and said that this, in a way, is the happy conclusion that Captain Vikram Batra and Dimple Cheema’s love story deserved.

“I have been reading some things,” says Vishal, adding, “This is a way for people to shower their love. They saw an image of Vikram in Sidharth. People draw a lot of courage from Vikram’s acts. They got to know his story – his bravery and his love story – through the film. Vikram left us so early, but this couple got close because of Vikram and Dimple’s life, it’s only right that people shower love on them.”

Though the film released two years ago, people often approach Vishal to share memories of his brother. Talking about Captain Vikram Batra, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, Vishal says, “If you remember, the film begins with a brother narrating his brother’s life. I had done a Ted Talk, after which people would approach me to speak about him. Now, after the film, it’s a lot more. I have always believed the real person who deserved it all was Vikram Batra. It is a lot of emotional burden on me… to live that life for the last 25 years. I always wish he was here to see what he has done for the country. At the end of the day, we are all narrators. I wish he were here to speak about his experiences.”

He further adds, “Sidharth did absolute justice to the role, and so did Kiara. Yes, Vikram’s physical absence continues to haunt me a lot, but look how he has created a name for himself, and he continues to live. Next year, he will complete 25 years of his sacrifice and people still remember him. I always have these mixed emotions where I feel sad and miss my brother, but also feel extremely proud of him.”

The glowing reviews of Shershaah are perhaps the perfect culmination of Sidharth Malhotra’s five-year journey with the film. The actor, after all, has been attached to the project ever since producer Shabbir Boxwala, in 2016, acquired the rights to bring the late Captain Vikram Batra’s story on screen. Given the rousing nature of the story, it is not surprising when the producer reveals that several actors, including Salman Khan, had expressed interest in the biopic.

Boxwala, whose friendship with Khan goes back a long way, recounts, “Salman approached me at a stage when I was in talks with Junglee Pictures. He wanted Shershaah to be Aayush’s [Sharma] debut film, and wanted to partner with me on it.”

However, Boxwala’s hands were tied at the time. By then, the producer had suggested Malhotra’s name to the Batra family for the role of the Param Vir Chakra awardee — an idea that was unanimously seconded by them. He had also arranged a meeting between the actor and the Batras. “It would have been highly unethical to drop him for another actor. When Captain Batra’s family gave me the rights, it was a big moment for me. They showed immense trust in me, and I didn’t want to go wrong at any step. I explained [my predicament] to Salman, who was understanding. Aayush was sweet and sportingly said that playing a double role in his debut movie might be [a tall order].”

Making Shershaah has been a long journey, with studios and directors changing hands, but Boxwala insists it has brought him immense satisfaction. “From Junglee Pictures, the film went to Dharma Productions [in 2019]. It didn’t take Karan [Johar] more than five minutes to say yes to the project. Director Dennis Lee came from Los Angeles to helm the film, but things didn’t work out. Vishnu Varadhan [director] was suggested by my writer Sandeep Shrivastava.”

The journey of bringing the incredible story of Captain Vikram Batra, PVC — the real-life hero who was martyred in the 1999 Kargil war — to the screen has indeed been an emotional one for the Batra family. Ahead of the world premiere of Shershaah on Amazon Prime Video, the film’s cast gathered with the Indian Army, friends and family of Captain Vikram Batra for a special screening in the capital city. Held in honour of the martyred war hero, the screening was attended by Vishal Batra, twin brother of the real-life Shershaah, Captain Vikram Batra and his parents Girdhari Lal Batra and Kamal Kanta Batra, alongside General MM Naravane - Chief of Army Staff, Lt General CP Mohanty - Vice Chief Of Army Staff, Lt General Sanjeev Kumar Sharma - Deputy Chief of Army Staff and actor Sidharth Malhotra’s friends and family.

Bolstered by the presence of the members of the Indian Army and the Batra family, the screening was a special and intimate affair that not only honoured the legacy of Captain Vikram Batra, but also served as an ode to the dedication and commitment of our armed forces. With the reel and real-life Shershaah’s family and close friends in attendance, the screening was an emotional homage to the braveheart who played a pivotal part in India’s victory at the Kargil War. Apart from the lead actors Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, director Vishnu Varadhan, producer Shabbir Boxwalla of Kaash Entertainment and writer Sandeep Shrivastava were seen in attendance. The film also features Shiv Panditt, Raj Arjun, Pranay Pachauri, Himanshu Ashok Malhotra, Nikitin Dheer, Anil Charanjeett, Sahil Vaid, Shataf Figar and Pawan Chopra in pivotal roles.

Jointly produced by Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment, Shershaah is all set to premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on August 12.

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The journey of bringing Captain Vikram Batra’s incredible story to the screen has been an emotional one for the Batra family. A day before the world premiere of Shershaah on Amazon Prime Video, the cast of the film gathered with the Indian Army along with friends and family of Capt Batra for a special screening in the Capital.

Held in honour of the martyred war hero, the screening was attended by Vishal Batra, twin brother of the real-life Shershaah and his parents, Girdhari Lal Batra and Kamal Kanta Batra, alongside General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, Lt General CP Mohanty, Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Sanjiv Sharma, Deputy Chief of Army Staff and actor Sidharth Malhotra’s friends and family.

The screening was a special and intimate affair that not only honoured the legacy of Capt Batra, who played a pivotal part in India’s victory at the Kargil War, but also served as an ode to the dedication and commitment of our Armed Forces.

Apart from lead actors Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, director Vishnu Varadhan, producer Shabbir Boxwala of Kaash Entertainment and writer Sandeep Shrivastava were seen in attendance.

Directed by Vishnu Varadhan, the film also features Shiv Panditt, Raj Arjun, Pranay Pachauri, Himanshu Ashok Malhotra, Nikitin Dheer, Anil Charanjeett, Sahil Vaid, Shataf Figar and Pawan Chopra in pivotal roles. Jointly produced by Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment, the film is all set to premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on August 12.

Captain Vikram Batra was all of 24 when he laid down his life in the Kargil War in 1999. The stories of his bravery and the catchphrase ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’ used by him as code to relay the capture of Point 5140 on the Tololing Ridge have inspired soldiers and awed the citizens of our country over the last two decades. He called Palampur in Himachal Pradesh his home, where he lived with his parents, twin Vishal Batra and sisters. During his college days, he fell in love with Dimple Cheema, who chose to stay unmarried after Captain Vikram Batra’s death on the battlefield. The Batra family felt Sidharth Malhotra resembled their son, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, and hoped that he would essay the part in the biopic on Captain Vikram Batra’s life.

The actor took the plunge wholeheartedly and focused on the film right from its inception. The movie Shershaah, which is jointly produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment, will premiere globally on Amazon Prime Video on August 12. Calling the film his “first passion project”, Sidharth talks about why this is more than another commercial venture for him, the challenges he faced to see the project get made with the same passion that he had and how doing justice to the expectations of the martyr’s family is a huge responsibility. Excerpts:

Yes, it’s a huge responsibility and it’s a great matter of pride to play a national hero. Captain Vikram Batra laid down his life for all of us, and for that matter, that holds true for all martyrs. This is a film for them, and we owe it to them to remind the people of India of the kind of sacrifices the Armed Forces make so that we can live in a democracy. That’s the pressure and responsibility that comes with this kind of a role and one has to accept it.

It’s such an incredible life story of a real-life hero that it’s close to impossible to accommodate everything in two hours. He was predominantly a very lovable Punjabi guy, who eventually became a great leader. We concentrated on how Captain Vikram Batra became Shershaah. He gave the last many years of his life to the country, so we have focussed on that. My approach as an actor was to focus on the specific qualities he displayed. For instance, we have a particular scene from his college days which brings out an aspect of his personality, then we go on the battlefield, where we show his leadership qualities and ability to inspire, laugh at danger and move ahead with confidence. The film shows jhalaks and moments from his life. We hope that through the film, people understand the various aspects of his personality.

When Vishal Batra (Captain Vikram Batra’s twin brother) met me with (producer) Shabbir Boxwala, it was a completely different team with a much bigger script. I told them that we need to work more on this, and get a better version of it. We spent almost two years in that process, and I kind of took over this film, saying I want to make it in a certain way. Then we got Sandeep Srivastava as a writer, Vishnu Varadhan to direct the film and Kiara Advani to play Dimple Cheema (Captain Vikram Batra’s fiancée) on board. Since I was involved with the film from a very early stage, I am far more attached to this film. Shershaah is my first passion project. I approached Dharma Productions to back it, so there was no need for me to produce it. But if that hadn’t worked out, I would have definitely been involved as a producer because I wanted to retain the authenticity of the project. I didn’t look at the film from a commercial point of view. Firstly, because of the amount of time that I have spent on it, and also because when I met the Batra family, I just felt a connect with them immediately.

When I met them, it was an emotionally-charged moment for everyone. I felt this could be my family. I come from a similar cultural background, and it could very well be my uncles and aunts there. My grandfather was a part of the Armed Forces and fought in the Indo-China War, I could have very well joined the Indian Army if I wasn’t an actor. My daadu got injured on the battlefield and took early retirement. My family has seen the kind of sacrifice that the Armed Forces have to make. You know, two years after I was approached for the project, I had a conversation with Vishal Batra when I expressed that the film needs to be in better hands. He was gracious enough to give me that responsibility and trust me with it. That’s why I am so emotionally attached to the film and I feel I owe it to the family to ensure that their brave son’s life story is portrayed authentically. It was always on my mind that for their family this is not just a film, it’s the life story of their brave son and brother, and I am extremely anxious to know what the family says and thinks when they see the complete film.

I must tell you that most of the dialogues spoken in the film are close to what Captain Vikram Batra said. That’s because of some great research by Sandeep Srivastava, our writer. When you see interviews of his comrades and juniors, they would often say, ‘Yaar, jab Batra saab lead karte hai hume bahut confidence milta hai. Woh aage se lead karenge aur humein batayenge ke kya karna hai.’ He had that love from all his subordinates. They trusted him with their life. They knew that he would put his life on the line for them. That was the quality that earned him the name Shershaah. It’s one thing to give directions, but he really walked the talk. You might think that some dialogues are very filmi, but he was also a very filmi person in real life. He was very influenced by Hindi films at that time, and he showed it, whether it was in his love story or dealing with his comrades.

Their love story makes you believe in love. They committed to each other in college, and unfortunately, he passed away and she chose not to marry and live with the love that she felt for him. In today’s day and age, it makes you believe in true love. It’s a unique story of that first love, which is innocent and pure. I feel it adds to the appeal of the film because most of what you see is true.

Back then, I lived in Delhi and we would often watch the news about the Kargil War on TV. I remember seeing these jhalaks of the famous interview of Captain Vikram Batra on TV, which is an iconic interview. It’s a surreal feeling that 15 years later, I am living and playing the person who I saw on the television screen of my house so many years ago. It’s been a long journey. I learnt that it was nowhere close to what I saw on television. There was so much more to be told.

We are all going through tough times because of the pandemic. This is the new norm. I look at it from the point of view that this film is so special to me that I want the maximum number of people to see it at one point. Today, that’s only possible through Amazon Prime Video, where people can watch the film from the comfort and safety of their home, and not just in India, but around the world. Something that probably wouldn’t have been possible with a theatrical release. The digital release will give us a massive reach, and that’s what every actor and creative person wants.

I hope the film inspires the youth. Captain Vikram Batra was only 24 when he sacrificed his life for the country. With this film, what comes into focus for the younger generation is to find that one thing that can inspire and drive you in your 20s; it could be anything. The question you need to ask yourself is, do you feel passionately about anything in your life at 24? If you do, then give it your all and it will manifest itself.

Model-turned-actor Krishna Chaturvedi, who will be seen making his debut in Ishq Forever , bagged the lead role after the makers of the film spotted his pictures on a social networking site. In an interview with BT, Krishna recalls his early days, talks about his foray into Bollywood, and admits that “it was an unexpected and a life-changing experience.“

Your entry into Bollywood is interesting. Tell us about it.
I got the film by sheer coincidence. The team of Ishq Forever was looking for a new face. There were a lot of people who had auditioned for it, but for some reason, the makers couldn't zero down on anyone. One day I got a call from Shabbir Boxwala (producer and writer of the film) and he told me that he had seen my photographs on a social networking site. He called me for an audition and thereon, everything fell into place.

Did you always want to be an actor?
As a kid, I was always fascinated by actors. I wasn't interested in studies and watching movies was a part of my daily routine. I would be in awe of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan. I would even mimic them and entertain my family. After finishing my schooling from Mathura, I shifted to Delhi to do my graduation and explore opportunities in modelling. In my final year, I met a few modelling agencies and luckily started getting a lot of work. I did a few commercials and walked the ramp for many fashion shows. In 2012, I decided to pack my bags and come to Mumbai to look for more work. Thankfully, I have been doing well for myself.

There is a kissing scene in the film for which you had to do 33 retakes.
I'm comfortable kissing on screen. It was the first time Ruhi and I were doing an intimate scene so there was slight nervousness, but that disappeared as soon as we started shooting. It wasn't a deliberate decision to do so many retakes. We were shooting on a rough terrain and the light wasn't that good. Hence, we needed 33 takes to get the perfect shot.

Tell us about your struggling days...
I would like to avoid the word struggle because there is nothing like it. There is something called as beginner's stage. Any new profession has a beginner's stage where you learn a lot of new things; you groom yourself and start doing some things for the first time. Initially, my parents were hesitant as they believed that modelling and acting were not good career options. But as I started getting work, their views changed and soon they were encouraging me to pursue my dream. In the beginning, I faced a lot of rejection for my weaknesses, but I worked upon them. I am happy that my patience and determination has paid off.

What are your future plans?
I will continue doing ramp shows and commercials but cinema is surely going to be my priority. I am open to doing a wide range of roles and I would like to work with good directors. It would be a dream come true to share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan.

You have a lot of hopes pinned on this film. Are you nervous?
I am very excited, yet nervous, as it is my first movie. I am waiting to see how the audience reacts to the film. I am finally getting into the groove. It was a totally different environment when we were shooting for the film as few people knew me then. Now that people are seeing the trailer, recognising me and liking it, I feel good.

After a long sabbatical, music composer Nadeem Saifi (of Nadeem Shravan fame) is back with the music of the film Ishq Forever. The musician, who has had an illustrious career in the 90s, talks about missing from action, why today's songs lack melody and what he thinks about young music composers. Excerpts from the interview...

How did Ishq Forever happen?
I wanted to make a comeback for a long time and I was looking for an interesting script to work on. I was pleasantly surprised when I got a call from my friend, producer Shabbir Boxwala. He insisted that I do the music for Ishq Forever. I heard the script and loved it. The film is not a run-of-the-mill rom-com and I am sure people will be in for a surprise.

What was the brief given to you?
They wanted my style of music and at the same time, they told me to keep the music fresh. The title track has a soulful melody. Bilkul Socha Na is an out and out romantic number. Expectations has a youthful vibe to it. The album is a complete package.

Despite living abroad for so many years, how have you managed to stay in touch with the industry?
I have many friends in the industry who always keep me updated. When it comes to music, my son loves Bollywood numbers and so I am aware of the latest. My passion has always been music and I have a ear for the tunes. I am aware of what is being played and what is going to get popular in Bollywood, irrespective of where I am in the world.

We don't see you composing much in Bollywood now. Why is that?
The trend of music in our films has changed drastically. About 15 years ago, I had predicted that there will be a revolution in the Indian music industry and it happened. We are completely influenced by the West. There is a lot of noise in music today. I don't like the current music scenario. Most of the songs lack melody and soul. There have been some really good numbers but they are far and few. Most of the songs today do not have any recall value. People want to hear foot-tapping party numbers and that is why composers are making songs for the feet and not for the heart. I also feel that relying on technology rather than roping in real singers has hampered the quality of music. Composers are in a hurry to give short-term hits than focus on the music and make something melodious.

What do you think of the new generation of music composers and singers?
There are many good music composers and singers and it would be unfair to point out who is good among them all, but it remains to be seen who will survive in the long run. Sadly, today's composers don't have a long shelf life as they lack consistency. Many of them attain overnight success by giving a couple of hit songs but don't live up to the expectations.

What do you miss about your earlier days?
I miss the originality that is lacking today. Earlier, we would do live recordings with a huge orchestra in a grand way. The entire song would be recorded at one place.Today, a singer records the song sitting in a small studio in Mumbai, while I compose the music in Dubai. We have lost that personal touch.

In the recent years, lyricists and music composers have also started doing playback singing.
I am really happy that a lot of multi-talented people are there in Bollywood. In fact, a lot of actors are also singing. Earlier, we saw a lot of singers becoming actors and they did really well. Today, there is a fair amount of opportunity available for everyone to showcase their talent.

What is your take on the songs being recreated?
I don't have an option but to feel good because even after 25 years, my songs are still being liked and are a hit among youngsters. At the same time, it worries me because music composers are not only destroying old songs in terms of music, but also adding vulgar lyrics to strike a chord with the youth. I have never got any credit for my songs that have been recreated and remixed so in the future, I am also planning to approach the judicial system and take action.

Are you in touch with your partner, Shravan Rathod?
Yes, I am. He recently met with a bad accident and is recovering from it. We are contemplating doing stage shows together all over the world.

Do you miss Mumbai?
Yes, I miss it a lot. I am already planning a project which will have all my memories of Bollywood and my time spent in Mumbai. I won't be able to divulge too many details but I can assure you, it is going to be big and people will remember me for it even after I am gone.

Any plans for your son (Samar Nadeem) to become a composer?
He just finished his graduation in Business Management from London. He is a good looking guy and plans to become an actor. He wants to take his time and look at his options before he takes the plunge.

Ever since he shifted base from Mumbai to London and later relocated to Dubai 18 years ago, music composer Nadeem Saifee (often referred to as the more flamboyant of the Nadeem-Shravan duo) has been tempted by filmmakers like Mahesh Bhatt and Guddu Dhanoa to return to Bollywood. However, for reasons best known to him, he didn't give the nod. Now, Nadeem has bitten the bait. He has just finished composing the tracks of Friday Cine Entertainment's Ishq Forever, a romantic film featuring newcomer Krishna Chaturvedi in the lead.The female lead is yet to be finalised. The movie is produced by Ajay Shah, Shabbir Boxwala and Harry Gandhi, and is directed by Sanjay Dayma.

Says Nadeem, “After you've composed for films like Phool Aur Kaante that ran for 100 weeks, Dilwale that ran for 75 weeks, and have had 50 golden and silver jubilee releases, there is nothing left to prove. But if music is coursing through your veins, then you can provide a lifelong high to those who seek it. And I'm extremely glad that Shabbir managed to tempt me.“ The album will have six tracks and Nadeem is confident that the music will validate the fact that he never really left Hindi cinema. “Melody and romance should return with this album of mine,“ he promises, before ending the conversation.