2021 · Film
Bhuj: The Pride of India
Abhishek Dudhaiya's war film set in December 1971, with Ajay Devgn as IAF Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, whose bombed Bhuj airbase must be made usable again.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Bhuj: The Pride of India is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription.
- Checked Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 via Airtel Xstream listing
The story
In December 1971, as war breaks out between India and Pakistan, the Indian Air Force base at Bhuj in Gujarat's Kutch region is bombed and its runway is wrecked. Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, in charge of the base, needs the airstrip working quickly so that reinforcements can land. With few soldiers to spare, he turns to the people of nearby Madhapar village, led by Sunderben, while an army scout and an undercover agent work against Pakistani forces closing in on the area.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
A short, loud war film for viewers who want battle action and patriotic spectacle more than a slow history lesson. At under two hours, with combat and air-raid violence and a U/A 13+ platform rating, it is best for teens and adults.
Genres:War and patrioticActionTrue storiesHistorical
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Bhuj: The Pride of India is set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It is based on the account of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, then in charge of the Bhuj airbase, who with the help of about 300 women from Madhapar village rebuilt the damaged runway in 72 hours. T-Series, Ajay Devgn FFilms, Select Media Holdings and Panorama Studios produced it.
It was first set for cinemas on 14 August 2020. After the pandemic shut theatres, Disney+ Hotstar announced on 29 June 2020 that it would stream the film as part of its Multiplex line-up; Wikipedia reports the digital rights sold for ₹112 crore. Post-production delays held it back a year, and it premiered on Disney+ Hotstar, now JioHotstar, on 13 August 2021, ahead of Independence Day. It streams with Hindi, Tamil and Telugu audio. Reviews were mostly negative: Firstpost gave it one star out of five, while trade analyst Taran Adarsh gave it three and a half.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- War drama, Action
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Certificate
- U/A 13+ (JioHotstar rating, as listed on Airtel Xstream Play)
- Director
- Abhishek Dudhaiya
- Cast
- Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharad Kelkar, Nora Fatehi
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Bhuj: The Pride of India in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Bhuj: The Pride of India is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription.
- Is Bhuj: The Pride of India in Hindi?
- Yes. Bhuj: The Pride of India is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Bhuj: The Pride of India suitable for children?
- Bhuj: The Pride of India has a CBFC U/A 13+ (JioHotstar rating, as listed on Airtel Xstream Play) certificate.
- How long is Bhuj: The Pride of India?
- Bhuj: The Pride of India runs for 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).