Sky's the limit

RAGHUVENDRA SINGH CHATS UP WITH THE DIRECTOR OF GUNJAN SAXENA:THE KARGIL GIRL, SHARAN SHARMA

- RAGHUVENDRA SINGH

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is based on the exploits of Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, the first woman Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot to fly in the combat zone. For a film of this kind, research is critical and director Sharan Sharma was lucky that the real-life Gunjan Saxena was there with him every step of the way. Detailing is critical in depicting the world of the IAF with authenticity and integrity. “Gunjan Ma’am luckily gave us all the time and attention we needed to be able to tell the story with honesty and with attention to detail in terms of recreating the world of the IAF,” he gushes. When he first called up Gunjan, in February 2017, to broach the idea of makng a film on her life, she thought someone was giving her a prank call. Says the director, “She was a bit sceptical and sounded uninterested in our first chat. When I asked if I could meet her, she said I must carry a letter from Dharma Productions to prove my credentials.” Their first meeting was in Jamnagar. And once they met they kept talking like old friends for close to six hours.