Just a day after the Indian Air Force (IAF) raised objection over the presentation of gender bias in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, the former IAF helicopter pilot on whose life the film is based spoke about her experience in the force as compared to what has been portrayed in Dharma Productions’ biographical with Janhvi Kapoor playing the title role.
Gunjan said, “The IAF is at the core and heart of this film… It has creatively tried to capture my story… But what cannot be denied is that even in this film the doors did open and opportunities were given… Equal opportunities were there for me to perform, and I think they are still there for all the women officers who are in this organisation.”
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As a young girl, Gunjan said, her only dream was to fly, to be there in the blue skies. “This dream of mine was realised through the IAF. I feel that for any dream to become a reality, it is very important for the environment around that individual to be supportive. In my journey that supportive environment was first my family and then the IAF that is the reason I was able to realise my dream of flying.”
In Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, which was released on Netflix yesterday, apart from the emotion, patriotic spirit and drama, the highlight was how casual sexism can play a big role in chipping one’s dream and fuel the gender divide. Gunjan admitted that whenever there is major change happening in any field, it is never easy. “Some individuals accept change more readily and some take more time to adjust,” the original Kargil Girl emphasized.
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But as was shown happening to Janhvi in the film by director Sharan Sharma, the IAF veteran said of her personal experience, “What is really of consequence and importance here and needs to be focused on is that even though it did take time for some individuals to change, that change did occur, it did happen and in a very positive and right direction.”
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, made by Dharma Productions and Zee Studios, premiered on Netflix to outstanding acclaim with film critics unanimously rating the war biographical and its leading actress, Janhvi Kapoor’s performance highly. This is the second Independence Day release by Karan Johar with an actress in the lead role based on Indo-Pak hostilities. In 2018, Dharma Productions and Junglee Pictures backed Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi with Alia Bhatt as the film’s protagonist that was scripted on events predating the 1971 India-Pakistan war. It was a big hit and the tenth highest grossing film of 2018. Raazi was also the second film driven by a female lead to gross more than 100 crore at the box office.
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