Republic Day Mania! Vicky Kaushal to Varun Dhawan: Actors Who Played Real-Life Heroes On-Screen

India celebrates Republic Day today, and what better occassion to look back at actors who brought real-life heroes on the big screen to celebrate patriotism in ways that stay with the audiences. On Republic Day, here’s looking at actors who displayed real-life heroes on-screen.

Vicky Kaushal – Sam Bahadur
In Sam Bahadur, Vicky Kaushal stepped into the shoes of the legendary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw with commitment so powerful that he blurred the lines between the reel and real! From the uniform, steel eyes to the grit in his body language, Vicky not only portrayed the character, he lived it.

Varun Dhawan – Border 2
Varun Dhawan captured the passion and resolve of Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya PVC in his latest big-screen release, Border 2. The actor extends a big salute to the bravery of Col. Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, who led his troops with courage during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his heroism, India’s highest military honour.

John Abraham – The Diplomat
John Abraham’s character in The Diplomat is based on Indian Foreign Service (IFS) diplomat Jitender Pal Singh, who helped Uzma Ahmed return from Pakistan. Known for making patriotic screen choices in the recent years, John added another loaded title to his body of work.

Janhvi Kapoor – Gunjan Saxena
In Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Janhvi Kapoor stepped into the shoes of the titular personality, an Indian Air Force officer, a former helicopter pilot, a 1999 Kargil veteran and the first woman to fly in a combat zone during the Kargil War. Janhvi proved her potential to step beyond the glamour, showing audiences what she’s capable of!

Alia Bhatt – Raazi
Alia Bhatt’s character in Raazi is based on the real-life story of the female Indian spy named Sehmat (in Raazi) who delivered selective information to India during the Indo-Pakistan war. Alia, celebrated for her range and versatility, served one of her best performances and even made a strong addition to her body of work.

On Republic Day, here’s to actors who highlighted the sacrifices and bravery of real-life personalities, showing that Bollywood continues to mirror ways in which India stands strong.