Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to his Twitter handle to share the news.
He wrote, “Ajay Devgn in #BhujThePrideOfIndia... Will essay the role of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, in charge of Bhuj airport during the 1971 Indo-Pak war... Directed by Abhishek Dudhaiya... Produced by Ginny Khanuja, Vajir Singh, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar and Abhishek Dudhaiya.”
The film will be helmed by Abhishek Dudhaiya and will be based on real life events during Indo-Pak war of 1971.
Bhushan Kumar, who is bankrolling the upcoming film, also took to his Twitter handle to welcome Ajay aboard.
He wrote, “Collaborating with @ajaydevgn once again, for #BhujThePrideOfIndia, based on Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik. The film will be directed by #AbhishekDudhaiya @TSeries #KrishanKumar #SelectMediaHoldingsLLP #GinnyKhanuja @vajir.”
Reportedly, Karnik was in-charge of the Bhuj airbase during the 1971 war, which remained operational despite of facing heavy bombing from Pakistan. He was accompanied by 50 air force and 60 defence security personnel at the airbase.
Karnik and his team reconstructed the destroyed Indian Air Force airstrip at Bhuj, Gujarat with the help of local women. The team convinced around 300 women from a nearby village to help them rebuild the airstrip so that a flight carrying Indian Army officers could land safely.
Ajay has previously delivered some breakthrough performances by donning tough cop act in multiple films. He has essayed the role of a cop in ‘Singham’ series and an army man in ‘Zameen’, among several other movies. However, this will be the first time he will play an Indian Air Force officer.
Apart from ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India’, Ajay will also star in ‘De De Pyaar De’, ‘Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior’ and SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’.