Janhvi to Play First Woman IAF Chopper Pilot for KJo

Last year, the news broke that Karan Johar was making a biopic on flight lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, one of the first Indian women to fly a chopper and evacuate injured Indian soldiers from Kargil in 1999. Gunjan and fellow flight lieutenant Srividya Rajan faced enemy fire to bring the soldiers home.

At the time, KJo had not announced who he planned to cast, only that he would producing the film.

Now, The Quint has learned that none other than Jahnvi Kapoor, who Karan launched in his Sairat-remake Dhadak, will be playing the part of Gunjan Saxena. In this exclusive photo, Janhvi can be seen with Gunjan and apparently the young star has spent a few days with the lieutenant to prepare for her role.

Gunjan comes from a family of army personnel and is also married to an IAF chopper pilot. She was part of the first ever batch of women pilots trailed by the IAF and was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for her work.

The KJo-produced biopic does not have have a title or director attached as of now.