Sonam Kapoor says Airlift & Neerja are based on stories that deserve to be retold
Bollywood kicked off the new year with two films based on the biggest Indian aviation incidents of the 20th century - Akshay Kumar's Airlift and Sonam Kapoor's Neerja. Call it coincidence, or a new trend of dramatising events of modern history, but you can't deny the striking similarities between the two films.
The Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur-starrer Airlift was based on the world's largest air evacuation mission - one carried out by the Indian government to rescue 1,70,000 stranded Indians from conflict-torn Kuwait.
Also Read: 7 facts you need to know about Pan Am hero Neerja Bhanot before you watch Sonam Kapoor's film
The Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi film Neerja is a biopic of Neerja Bhanot, the 23-year-old air hostess, who sacrificed her life to save passengers on board a PanAm 37 flight when it was hijacked by terrorists.
Actress Sonam Kapoor, who will be seen essaying the character of Neerja Bhanot told Catch about why her film was special.
Also Read: Neerja: Why is Sonam Kapoor emotional about this Ram Madhvani film?"I think it is incredible that films like Airlift and Neerja are made as these are the stories which deserve to be said," she said.
On her character, the bravery award-winner Neerja Bhanot, Sonam said
Also Read: Airlift: From Khiladi to Ranjit Katyal; How Akshay Kumar has grown to be Bollywood's king of intelligent thrillers"The major difference between Airlift and Neerja is that Neerja Bhanot was just an ordinary 23-year-old airhostess. The story which we see is not a story of a soldier, but it is of an ordinary girl who because of strength of spirit does something extra-ordinary. So it is not about evacuation, it is not about hi-jack, but this is to showcase the spirit, compassion and bravery of a human being. A young, ordinary 23-year-old did something extraordinary."
The actress also feels that Indian audiences will accept any film which is made with a lot of honesty. There is no formula for success except honesty and hard work, she said.
"I think anything made with honesty will do well at the Box Office. I don't think it is about larger than life or small characters but it is all about being honest and showcasing something truthfully".
Neerja releases on 19 February 2016.
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