Shershaah 2021

In a heartfelt TED Talk, Vishal Batra recounts the life of his twin brother, Captain Vikram Batra, Sidharth Malhotra. From a young age, Vikram is fearless, bravely confronting older boys during a game of cricket and letting that bold spirit steer his future. While he is studying English literature in college, Vikram is drawn toward another path when he is selected for the Merchant Navy, a choice that delights his girlfriend Kiara Advani who plays Dimple Cheema but leaves him torn between two futures. The tension between his heart and his ambitions grows as Dimple’s father resists a relationship rooted in caste differences, yet Vikram’s determination tilts him toward his original dream: to serve in the Indian Army.

Vikram decides to pursue the Combined Defence Services Examination, earning a commission as a Lieutenant in the 13th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He is posted to Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, where he quickly earns the trust of both his unit and the local people. In the heat of a counter-insurgency operation, he defies orders to save his commanding officer, Lt. Sanjeev “Jimmy” Jamwal, a move that deepens the bond between them and cements Vikram’s reputation for courage and loyalty. When a fellow soldier falls in an ambush orchestrated by the militant Haider, Vikram seeks permission from Lt. Col. Y. K. Joshi to lead a retaliatory mission, a decision that ends with Haider’s death and Vikram’s name spreading through the ranks and beyond.

As the Kargil War erupts in May 1999, Vikram cuts short a leave to rejoin his unit, embodying the resolve he has shown since childhood. He declares a famous vow to a friend: “I’ll either come back after hoisting the Indian flag in victory or wrapped in it. But I’ll return for sure.” The unit is sent to the Ghumri base and then tasked with recapturing Point 5140, operating under the codename “Shershaah” and signaling victory with the yell “Yeh Dil Maange More!” Vikram leads the assault with precision, earning widespread recognition and a promotion to Captain.

The mission that follows focuses on the critical peak of Point 4875, which overlooks National Highway 1. Against brutal terrain and with enemy fire all around, Vikram and his team methodically dismantle enemy bunkers. In a heroic bid to save a wounded comrade under heavy fire, Vikram is fatally wounded. He dies as his unit continues the charge and raises the Indian flag in a final, defiant display of courage. For his extraordinary bravery, Vikram is posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration.

The film closes on a somber and intimate note, with Vikram’s funeral in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, and Dimple’s grief reflected in the memories that linger after his loss. The closing credits weave in archival footage of the real Captain Vikram Batra, preserving the legacy of a life defined by fearless leadership and unwavering devotion to his country.