An Aerial Spectacle Like Never Before
Siddharth Anand, the maestro behind high-octane blockbusters such as ‘War’ and ‘Pathaan,’ returns with another adrenaline-pumping action thriller, ‘Fighter.’ In a breathtaking display of air combat, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone are set to grace the silver screen as valiant Indian Air Force (IAF) officers.
The buzz around ‘Fighter’ has been as ascendable as its aerial stunts, with news surfacing about a particularly audacious set-piece that is sure to hold audiences spellbound. This pivotal scene entails Roshan’s character, Patty, leading a devastating assault from the skies against a formidable enemy. The masterful sequence took an intense seven days of shooting on an expansive set in the heart of Mumbai, demonstrating the film’s commitment to grand-scale filmmaking.
Inspiration Meets Innovation
Siddharth Anand is known for weaving cinematic magic by blending real-life inspiration with his creative vision. The ambitious air strike sequence is said to be modeled on an actual IAF operation. However, true to his style, Anand elevates the real-world act of valor with high drama tailored for the big screen.
An elaborate set that represents the enemy stronghold was meticulously constructed at the SRPF Grounds in Jogeshwari. Art director Rajat Poddar took charge of this mammoth task, demanded by Anand’s uncompromising vision. Alongside, acclaimed action directors Se-yeong Oh and Parvez Shaikh were at the helm of engineering the breathtaking stunt choreography.
Crafting a Wintery Battlefield
One hears from sources close to the production that the art team began with references from images of the actual airstrike location. Next, they introduced artistic embellishments to suit the film’s narrative. The aim was to simulate an air strike over a snow-coated town hiding the enemy base. The team proceeded to construct an entire town spanning five acres at the SRPF grounds. For close-up scenes, a specialized chemical was employed which, when mixed with water, simulated the appearance of snow. The crew opted for salt to create snowy landscapes in wide shots, thus achieving a highly realistic look that is pivotal for such a key sequence.
The building process of this intricate set stretched over a month, culminating in a heroic on-camera operation spearheaded by Roshan in April 2023, with his squadron flying Mirage 2000 jets to obliterate the terrorist camp.
Designing the Air Force World
The challenge did not stop with the creation of an enemy camp. ‘Fighter’ demanded the establishment of an entire IAF universe, encompassing everything from an aviation academy to high-tech fighter aircraft. The design process for each type of aircraft presented in the film, such as the Pilatus trainer, the line of Sukhoi Su, and the Mirage 2000, required a painstaking 15 to 20 days of dedicated work.
Star-Studded Cast and High Expectations
The film brings together an ensemble cast featuring the likes of Anil Kapoor, Akshay Oberoi, and Karan Singh Grover. With the stakes raised high, ‘Fighter’ is primed to redefine the Indian action genre upon its much-anticipated release on January 25.
With such in-depth preparation and a vision grand in stature, ‘Fighter’ is set to be a cinematic portrayal that mirrors the might and glory of the Indian Air Force. Audiences are poised on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the moment when Hrithik Roshan takes to the skies and brings the thunder.
