Bollywood Biopics Based On India’s Real-Life War Heroes
Posted On: 15 May 2025 | Last Updated : 15 May 2025 | Views : 67
Bollywood has often turned to real-life stories for inspiration to produce some compelling biopics that highlight the lives of India’s war heroes vis-à-vis our armed forces soldiers and their contributions. These biopics bring to life the courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of our soldiers who defended the nation with unwavering bravery. From tales of battlefield valour to personal struggles and triumphs, these films not only entertained but also offered insights into the bravery and sacrifices of soldiers, often serving as a tribute to their real-life heroism. With powerful performances and emotional storytelling, Bollywood war biopics bridge the gap between history and cinema, keeping the legacy of India's brave hearts alive for future generations to admire and remember. Here are a few notable Bollywood war movies and biopics that brought the stories of real-life heroes to life:
1. Border (1997) - Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri
J.P. Dutta’s Border remains one of Indian cinema’s best India-Pakistan war biopics. The movie set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was based on the events of the Battle of Longewala, which was led by then Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri (played by Sunny Deol). Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri commanded the company of the 23rd Battalion of Punjab Regiment, including 120 soldiers who defeated Pakistan at the Longewala post in Rajasthan.
2. Lakshya (2004) - Captain Karan Shergill
Hrithik Roshan starrer Lakshya, directed by Farhan Akhtar remains one of the top 10 Bollywood war movies of all time. It was inspired by the real-life story of Indian army Captain Karan Shergill who, from a lazy and irresponsible young man, becomes one of the heroes of the Kargil War in 1999. Captain Karan Shergill, who was posted to the 3rd battalion of the Punjab Regiment, was assigned the task of capturing Point 5179, which was a crucial vantage point dominating the army’s main supply line.
3. Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) - Colonel Kapil Yadav
Director Aditya Dhar’s Uri: The Surgical Strike is one of the best Hindi war films to hit the marquee in recent times. The film was based on the real-life surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army in 2016 in response to the Uri army camp attack carried out by Pakistan. Vicky Kaushal, who played the lead role of Major Vihaan Singh Shergill was inspired by real-life army Colonel Kapil Yadav.
4. Kesari (2019) - Havildar Ishar Singh
Continuing with popular biopic movies on real war heroes, who can forget the Akshay Kumar starrer, Kesari. Akshay Kumar as Havildar Ishar Singh nailed the character so perfectly that it continues to give us goosebumps even today. Directed by Anurag Singh, the war drama follows the Battle of Saragarhi, a battle fought between 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army and the 10,000 Afridi and Orakzai Pashtun tribesmen in 1897.
5. 72 Hours: Martyr Who Never Died (2019) - Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat
One of the lesser-known movies based on real Indian war heroes was 72 Hours: Martyr Who Never Die. Set during the 1962 Indo-China aggression, this biopic war drama was based on the true story of Indian army rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat (played by Avinash Dhyani), who single-handedly, along with a troop of soldiers, battled the Chinese. The film delves into the untold story and times of the slain soldier whose sacrifice and valour to salvage his motherland against the Chinese troops can never be forgotten. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.
6. Bunker (2020) - Lieutenant Vikram Singh
Director Jugal Raja’s Bunker is among the lesser-known inspiring war biopic movies of Bollywood. Bunker narrates the untold story of Lt. Vikram Singh (played by Abhijeet Singh), who was deployed at the LOC in the Poonch sector of Kashmir, where infiltrators violated the ceasefire agreement. During the crossfire, he is the only survivor and ends up being severely wounded and tied to a live shell.
7. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020) - Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is one of the best Bollywood biopic war films that narrates the inspiring tale of Flt. Lt. Gunjan Saxena who became India's first female Air Force combat pilot in the Kargil War in 1999. Janhvi Kapoor played the role of the fearless young officer in the film who made history by flying a helicopter during the operations to evacuate over 900 troops, both injured and deceased.
8. Bhuj: The Pride of India (2021) - Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik
Actor Ajay Devgn, who played the role of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik in director Abhishek Dudhaiya’s Bhuj: The Pride of India, also features among Bollywood biopics on war heroes. The film is based on the true story of Indian Air Force officer Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, rebuilt the Bhuj airbase with the help of the locals in a record time after it was destroyed by air strikes made by Pakistan. The efforts of the Indian Air Force in defending the Bhuj airbase was nothing short of brilliance given the circumstances.
9. Shershaah (2021) - Captain Vikram Batra
Actor Sidharth Malhotra’s Shershaah is regarded as one of the best Bollywood biopics on war heroes. Shershaah narrates Captain Vikram Batra's life story, from his early beginnings and commission into the Indian Army to his remarkable valour and ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield after capturing Point 4875 during the Kargil War in 1999. The movie derives its title from the code name assigned to Captain Vikram Batra of the 13 JAK Rifles in recognition of his heroic actions during the Kargil War. He was awarded the Param Veer Chakra posthumously.
10. Major (2022) - Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
Major starring Adivi Sesh in the titular role, may not be among the quintessential biography movies of Bollywood but continues to have its fan base. The film was based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an Indian Army officer who served in the 51 Special Action Group of the National Security Guard on deputation and who attained martyrdom during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra.
11. Sam Bahadur (2023) - Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw
Director Meghna Gulzar’s biopic on Indian war heroes, Sam Bahadur depicts the tale of India's first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who led India to victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan, which led to the birth of Bangladesh. Sam Bahadur (played by Vicky Kaushal) showcases the life and times of Field Marshal S.H.F.J Manekshaw, who was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment, and later, after India’s partition in 1947, was reassigned to the 8th Gorkha Rifles. The story narrates his active military career spanning four decades and five wars, including his contribution as an Army Commander and later as the Chief of the Indian Army Staff from June 1969 to January 1973.
12. Pippa (2023) - Captain Balram Singh Mehta
Pippa is yet another biopic war drama based on the life of Captain Balram Singh Mehta (played by Ishaan Khatter), who belonged to India’s 45 Cavalry regiment and fought on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The movie narrates how a young Captain Balram Singh Mehta, equipped with the PT-76 tank, nicknamed 'Pippa' drives into East Pakistan to capture Pakistani soldiers and rescue his elder brother, Major Ram Mehta, who covertly enters the region under a false name.
13. Chandu Champion (2024) – Craftsman Murlikant Petkar
Chandu Champion is yet another war-cum-sports biopic based on India’s first Paralympics gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar. Murlikant Petkar (played by Kartik Aaryan) joined the corps of E.M.E. as a jawan who represented India in boxing at the International Services Sports Meet 1964 in Tokyo. Despite losing in the final round, he makes a name for himself. Later, he is declared a paraplegic after getting injured during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He then competed in the 1972 Summer Paralympics in the 50m freestyle swimming event, where he won a gold medal for India.
14. VC 571 (2024) - VC Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi
VC 571 is one of the lesser-known Bollywood war biopics that is based on the heroics of an unsung hero and veteran Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi, who belonged to the Garhwal Rifles. The story depicts how Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi (played by Avinash Dhyani) single-handedly fought against the enemies during the First World War before attaining martyrdom. After the war, the British started giving the honour of a Marshal level soldier to the Gorkha and Pahari (Garhwal) soldiers, followed by Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi being awarded the Victoria Cross 571 by the British.
15. Ground Zero (2025) - Second-In-Command Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey (B.S.F.)
Ground Zero, starring Emraan Hashmi, is a war biopic drama directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar. The movie is based on true events that took place in Kashmir in 2001, which narrates the story of B.S.F officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, who leads a group of soldiers in an operation to eliminate terrorist Rana Tahir Nadeem, better known as Ghazi Baba, who was killed in 2003.
16. 120 Bahadur (2025) - Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (P.V.C.)
Farhan Akhtar’s 120 Bahadur biopic war drama is a tribute to Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, a soldier of Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment, who fought the legendary Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Indo-China War. 120 Bahadur draws inspiration from the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice made by the 120 soldiers who were stationed in the Chushul sector, where the Chinese army attacked in the morning hours of 18 November 1962. The Indian soldiers fought bravely until their last rounds before eventually being overpowered by the Chinese. Major Shaitan Singh was seriously wounded before succumbing to his injuries. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously.
