'Border 2': Diljit Dosanjh to portray Param Vir Chakra awardee
What's the story
It is already known that Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh is part of the cast of Border 2, a war drama directed by Anurag Singh. The film, which is being shot at the Babina cantonment in Jhansi, also features Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Recently, Dosanjh revealed on a podcast that he will be playing Indian Air Force officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon in this 1971 India-Pakistan war movie. Know more about the war hero here.
Character insight
Singh Sekhon single-handedly defended the Srinagar air base
Dosanjh's character in Border 2, Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, is a tribute to the real-life war hero who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. On December 14, 1971, Sekhon single-handedly defended the Srinagar air base from an attack by six Pakistan Air Force F-86 jets. His act of bravery earned him recognition and immortalized his name in Indian military history.
Legendary figure
He was 26 when he took on 4 enemy Sabres
Hailing from the village of Isewal Dakha in the Ludhiana district of Punjab, Singh Sekhon was born in 1943 to an IAF flight lieutenant father. He was formally commissioned into the force as a Pilot Officer in 1967. During the fated day, his (then 26) IAF Gnat took on four PAF Sabres, downing two of them. But the odds were against him, and following a courageous battle, Singh Sekhon's Gnat nosedived and crashed.
Production plan
Dosanjh's preparation and shooting schedule for 'Border 2'
Currently, Dosanjh is shooting for the Punjabi movie Sardaarji 3 in Scotland and will start prepping for his role in Border 2 by the end of March. Director Singh has planned a 20-day, start-to-finish schedule for him, reported Mid-Day. The dialogues will be shot at the Bombay Flying Club in Juhu, while wide-angle shots will be filmed in Kashmir using replicas of Folland Gnat fighter aircraft to recreate the Srinagar air base.
Role reprisal
Deol to reprise his role from original 'Border' film
In Border 2, Deol will be reprising his role of Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri from the original Border film, which was released in 1997. The character is based on a real-life Indian Army officer who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The inclusion of this character adds another layer of authenticity to the upcoming war drama.