'Fighter', 'Tejas', and others: Indian Air Force movies to watch out for

Indian cinema has celebrated the valour and sacrifices of the Indian Air Force through various films that capture the spirit of these brave people. From depicting historic battles to showcasing the personal journeys of Air Force officers, these movies have provided fans with a glimpse into the triumphs of the Indian Air Force. Here, take a look at the list of some Bollywood movies that are based on the Indian Air Force:

Helmed by Siddharth Anand, 'Fighter' stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, and Akshay Oberoi in the lead roles. The film is all set to hit theatres on January 25. It marks Hrithik and Deepika's first-ever on-screen collaboration. It has been primarily shot at air bases in India with real Sukhois, Indian fighter planes.

'Rang De Basanti' follows a British film student travelling to India to document the story of five freedom fighters of the Indian revolutionary movement. It stars Aamir Khan, Siddharth, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, and Alice Patten. The film is written, produced, and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Though not entirely centred on the Air Force, the film pays homage to Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, who lost his life during the Kargil War.

Directed by Pankaj Kapur, 'Mausam' spans different eras and explores the life of an Indian Air Force officer played by Shahid Kapoor. The main story spans a period of 10 years, from 1992 to 2002, and includes references to the demolition of Babri Masjid, the Bombay riots, the 1993 Bombay bombings, the Kargil War, the 9/11 attacks, and the Post-Godhra Riots. The film also features Sonam Kapoor in the lead roles. 'Mausam' is written and directed by Pankaj Kapur.

​'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl' tells the inspiring true story of Gunjan Saxena, one of the first Indian women to become fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor as Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena, alongside Pankaj Tripathi and Angad Bedi in supporting roles. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was unable to be released theatrically and was picked up for distribution by the OTT platform. 'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl' was directed by Sharan Sharma.

​The movie centres around Tejas Gill, an Indian Air Force pilot, who embarks on a crucial mission to save an Indian spy possessing highly classified information. The film delves into the complexities of Tejas' character, intertwining the intensity of military operations with the personal struggles she faces. The film stars Kangana Ranaut in the lead role, alongside Anshul Chauhan and Varun Mitra in supporting roles. It was written and directed by Sarvesh Mewara and produced by Ronnie Screwvala.