2020 · Film
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl
Sharan Sharma's biographical drama starring Janhvi Kapoor as Indian Air Force helicopter pilot Gunjan Saxena, one of the first women to fly in a combat zone.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
The story
Growing up in Lucknow, young Gunjan Saxena falls in love with flying after a peek into an airliner's cockpit. Her father, an army officer, backs her dream, while her brother insists the cockpit is no place for a woman. When the cost of civilian flight training proves out of reach, an Indian Air Force recruitment advertisement offers a new route, but she still has to clear tough medical standards. Once she makes it in, Gunjan faces doubt and hostility from some colleagues as she tries to prove she belongs in the air.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Families, and especially girls with big ambitions, can watch this U-rated drama together; at under two hours it is one of the shorter films here. The war scenes are brief and restrained, and the focus stays on her training and her bond with her father.
Genres:True storiesWar and patrioticDrama
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is based on Gunjan Saxena, a former Indian Air Force helicopter pilot who flew in the combat zone during the 1999 Kargil war. Produced by Dharma Productions and Zee Studios, it was shot largely in Lucknow in 2019.
The film was due in cinemas on 13 March 2020 and then 24 April 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut theatres and Netflix bought it. It premiered on Netflix on 12 August 2020, with audio in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and English. The Indian Air Force wrote to the CBFC objecting to what it called an undue negative portrayal of IAF personnel, and some fellow officers said the gender conflict was exaggerated. Saxena responded that the bias she faced was not at an organisational level. At the 66th Filmfare Awards the film received eight nominations, including Best Film, Best Actress for Kapoor and Best Supporting Actor for Tripathi.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Biographical drama
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Certificate
- U
- Director
- Sharan Sharma
- Cast
- Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi, Vineet Kumar Singh, Manav Vij
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
- Is Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl in Hindi?
- Yes. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl suitable for children?
- Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl has a CBFC U certificate, which means it is suitable for viewers of all ages.
- How long is Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl?
- Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl runs for 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).