Airlift (2016)
Airlift is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language political thriller film directed by Raja Krishna Menon. It stars Akshay Kumar as Ranjit Katyal and Nimrat Kaur as his wife Amrita. The film is based on the true story of the 1990 evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion. It follows a wealthy businessman who becomes the leader of 170,000 stranded Indians. He negotiates with Iraqi forces and arranges buses to the Jordan border. The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of the crisis and Akshay Kumar's performance. It won three awards and received 18 nominations. Airlift was released on 22 January 2016 and was a commercial success.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- VI movies and tv, Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 22 January 2016
- Director
- Raja Menon
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Rating
- 7.7/10
Storyline
When Iraq invades Kuwait in 1990, wealthy Indian businessman Ranjit Katyal thinks he can escape alone. But he soon realizes he is no different from the 170,000 Indians trapped in the war zone. He must risk everything to lead them to safety. Can he outsmart the Iraqi army and bring everyone home?
“The largest evacuation in history.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Airlift
Cast reunions in this film: Ankit Tiwari & Amaal Mallik (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's climax was shot in a real desert in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, using over 10,000 extras to recreate the refugee camp.
- Akshay Kumar took no payment for acting in the film, opting instead for a share of the movie's profits.
- Director Raja Menon researched the evacuation for two years, including meeting the real-life hero Ranjit Katyal, who inspired Akshay's character.
- The song 'Dil Cheez Tujhe Dedi' from the 1981 film 'Umrao Jaan' is featured in a party scene, set in Kuwait before the invasion.
- This was one of the first major Bollywood films to be shot extensively in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for authenticity.
- The real evacuation in 1990 was the largest civilian airlift in history, moving over 1,70,000 people in 59 days.
- Nimrat Kaur, who played the female lead, had to learn basic Arabic for her role as a Kuwait-based housewife.
Frequently Asked Questions
News & Stories
Tu Bhoola Jise Video song from AIRLIFT movie starring Akshay kumar, Nimrat Kaur in lead roles. This beautiful song Tu Bhoola Jise is composed by Amaal Mallik in the lyrics by Kumaar and sung by K.K.