Thanks to Veer Pahariya, who makes a thrilling Bollywood debut on Republic Day with ‘Sky Force’, Indians will learn about the valour and heroic sacrifice of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya of the Indian Air Force who got martyred in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. The young actor is said to have not just breathed life into his screen portrayal of the IAF war hero, but also energized Ajjamada’s gritty engagement with the Pakistani Air Force in Sargodha with fire and soul.

‘Sky Force’, which has been directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, has given Veer Pahariya a handsome and patriotic platform to unburden the talent that has been bubbling inside of him by playing the gutsy IAF fighter pilot on screen. This when his co-star was Akshay Kumar, who is Bollywood’s most realistic actor when it comes to donning an Armed Forces uniform for a film. Veer Pahariya is said to have put in three-and-half years preparing for his role.

The shooting of the action scenes was intense. Especially the climax that shows Veer Pahariya undertaking the daring mission to destroy Pakistan’s heavily guarded air base in Sargodha. In the aerial dogfight, Ajjamada was confronted by a Pakistan Air Force F-104, one the most advanced fighter jets of the time. Retreat was not an option. So with a remarkable display of skill, precision and unshakeable courage, he managed to outmaneuver the enemy aircraft and take it down.

But the victory was bittersweet for India. Because Ajjamada’s Dassault Mystere sustained critical damage and crashed in Pakistan, ending in the young airman’s ultimate sacrifice for his country. Veer Pahariya was so overwhelmed at the end of this shoot, that he fell into the arms of his directors and cried. The unit of ‘Sky Force’ is full of praise for him. The trailer of the Jio Studios-Maddox Films production has left audiences gasping at Veer Pahariya’s performance and wanting more.