1. Last year for Independence Day ,Karan Johar had produced Gunjan Saxena, The Kargil Girl,a biopic on the life of India’s first female airforce officer who flew into a war, that was immensely liked. This year on the same occasion he has Shershaah another war- hero epic ready. This time it is Paramveer Chakra winner Vikram Batra whose story is given a splendid celluloid spin by director Vishnu Vardhan.
2. It was Sidharth Malhotra’s idea to do a Vikram Batra bio-pic. When he went to his friend producer Karan Johar, the idea was shot down. “Not so soon after Gunjan Saxena,” said Karan. “Why not?” Sid Malhotra convinced his friend and mentor in no time at all.
3. To give the film a fresh vibrant look, Karan Johar invited Tamil director Vishnuvardhan who was at first reluctant. But Karan offered Vishnu two pre-emptive incentives to make his Bollywood debut:no interference, unlimited budget. Resultantly, Shershaah is one of the best-looking war films India has ever produced.The battle sequences do not resort heavily to special effects and computer graphics. The war sequences are on a par with what war mohgul J P Dutta shoots. In fact JP saw the trailer of Shershaah. He is all praise for the battle scenes.
4. Sidharth Malhotra plays the double role of Vikram Batra and his twin brother Vishal Batra. If we look closely , the two characters are kept remarkably separate from one another. For the soldier’s part Malhotra undertook the full soldier’s regime . By the end of his training, Karan Johar was convinced that Malhotra could easily join the Indian army. So authentic is Malhotra’s war-herogiri that I am pretty sure the performance will be highly eligible for a National award.
5. Kiara Advani plays Sidharth Malhotra’s Significant Other. The two have not been seen together in any other film.I can tell you straightaway that they make a smashing made-for-each-other pair. The fact that they are linked together offscreen enhances their onscreen togetherness.
