Six years of Neerja: Ram Madhvani remembers the Bhanot family

One of the most heartfelt biographic thrillers of the decade, Neerja clocks in six years today. Starring Sonam Kapoor in the lead with Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Shekhar Ravjiani, and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles, the film is based on the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi.

The film is shown from the point of view of the head purser of the flight, Neerja Bhanot, who thwarted the hijack attempt by alerting the pilots, thus grounding the plane; Bhanot died trying to help save the passengers and crew on board.

On the film's sixth anniversary, its director, Ram Madhvani takes a trip down the memory lane.

He shares , "In remembering Neerja, one always has to remember Neerja's mother and her family. When we went to Chandigarh to meet the family one of the most spirited women that I have ever met was Neerja's mother, Rama Bhanot.

She blessed us while we were shooting. She could not, unfortunately, see the film. Her memory inspired the film which is about how does a family overcomes the loss of their child."

He adds, "Last year, Aneesh Bhanot, Neerja's brother also passed away. He was a wonderful gentleman. The family now has Akhil Bhanot. The father, the mother, and the brother passed away.

Every 19th, what the entire team at Ram Madhvani Films and the team at FoxStar Studios and Bling Unplugged wants to do is to celebrate the memory of the Bhanot family. We owe the film to them.”

Helmed by Madhvani and penned by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyuktha Chawla, the film bagged numerous accolades such as at the 64th National Film Awards and at the 62nd Filmfare Awards, it won six awards, including Best Film (Critics), Best Actress (Critics) for Sonam Kapoor, and Best Supporting Actress for Shabana Azmi.