Today, India is celebrating Air Force Day. Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932 which means today it is the 88th anniversary of the Indian Air Force.
In Bollywood, we have seen movies where the protagonist played the role of an Air Force pilot protecting the country. So, today, let’s look at the list of films in which the Indian Air Force played a pivotal part in the storyline.
Sangam
1964 release Sangam starring Vyjayanthimala, Raj Kapoor, and Rajendra Kumar has to be the first one on the list. Raj Kapoor played the role of an IAF (Indian Air Force) pilot in the film who is assigned a mission in Kashmir to deliver items to soldiers fighting there. While Sangam was a love triangle, the Indian Air Force was surely an important element in the film.
Agnipankh
In 2004, Jimmy Sheirgill, Rahul Dev, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Shamita Shetty, and Divya Dutta starred in a movie titled Agnipankh. The film totally revolved around Indian Air Force pilots and was promoted as a tribute to IAF (Indian Air Force). Unfortunately, the film failed to make a mark at the box office.
Veer Zaara
Veer Zaara is an eternal love story. But we are sure everyone would remember that Shah Rukh Khan played the role of an Indian Air Force pilot named Veer Pratap Singh and to visit Pakistan and meet Zaara, he had to leave his job. Well, SRK surely looked dapper in the Indian Air Force pilot uniform.
Mausam
Mausam was also a love story and Shahid Kapoor played the role of an IAF (Indian Air Force) pilot in the movie. The 1999 Kargil War was one of the incidents that have been showcased in the film and Shahid’s character gets injured during the war.
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl
Janhvi Kapoor starrer Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a biopic on Indian Air Force pilot, Gunjan Saxena. The movie released in August this year on Netflix. It showcased the journey of Gunjan who tries to make a mark in a field that was ruled by men. She was the first woman IAF (Indian Air Force) pilot to enter the war zone during the 1999 Kargil War.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.