‘Sonam Has The Energy Of A 20 Year Old’

On this happy occasion, I wish Sonam more work and another National Award.

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A decade ago, on April 19, 2015, Sonam Kapoor embarked on a journey with Neerja. The biographical drama, which released the following year on February 16, relieves purser Neerja Banot's last flight aboard Pan Am 73 when, on September 5, 1986, four terrorists of the Libyan-based terrorist group Abu Nidal, attempt to hijack the ill-fated plane enroute to New York during a stopover at Karachi’s Jinnah international airport.

Neerja died two days before her birthday, managing to save 359 of the 379 passengers on board, including the three children she took bullets for.

She was honoured posthumously with the Ashok Chakra while Neerja was adjudged ‘Best Feature Film in Hindi’ at the 64th National Film Awards with Sonam’s performance in the title role getting her a ‘Special Mention’.

On Sonam's 40th birthday on June 9, the film’s director Ram Madhvani says “Today, Sonam turns 40,which I say is 20 multiplied by two because she still has the energy of a 20 year old.”

It was Atul (Kasbekar, Producer), who spoke to Sonam first and approached her for Neerja even before we were ready with the script. I was happy when he told me that she had evinced interest in the project because even then, I was convinced she had the right look and demeanour to play Neerja and it’s rare for an actor to get to play a role that is perfectly suited to them.

I met her for the first time when she came with us to Chandigarh to meet the Bhanot family.

We took the blessings of her mother (Rama Bhanot), her brothers (Akhil and Aneesh Bhanot) and the others who were there.