Ever since she started making a public appearance, late actor Sri Devi and Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor’s eldest daughter Janhvi Kapoor has become a filmmaker’s favourite ever.
The budding actor made her debut in July with Dhadak and since then she has been flying high. She has also signed her second film, Karan Johar’s directorial, Takht. In which she will share screen space with Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Anil Kapoor among others.
Furthermore, if media reports are to go by, the 21-year-old has also signed her third film. Also, a Karan Johar production. In which she will portray the role of Gunjan Saxena, one of India’s first female combat aviators to be posted in Kargil during the 1999 war.
Quoting a source, Indian publication, Mumbai Mirror reported that Kapoor already started prepping for her role.
“Janhvi already began her prep and met Gunjan to understand her story and observe her mannerisms. The film will probably go on the floors sometime next year. While Karan will produce the film, a director is yet to be finalised,” the report said.
Gunjan Saxena was one of the 25 young women who formed the first batch of women IAF trainee pilots. In 1999, she was summoned during the Kargil war to carry out medical evacuations and supply drops in the war zone.
What’s interesting is that the news came a few weeks after Pakistani airforce film. Parwaaz Hai Junoon starring Hamza Ali Abbasi, Hania Aamir and Ahad Raza Mir in the lead was released. PHJ, a tribute to the Pakistan airforce, aims to show the human side of the officers. Hania plays a central character in the film and her role takes inspiration from real female officers.
In an interview, Hamza had said, “Hania’s character is a fact-based role. Not many people know this but the Pakistani air force has one of the highest ratios of female fighter pilots.”
With this minor analysis, it looks like KJO’s next project takes inspiration from Parwaaz Hai Junoon.