Shershaah
| Release poster | |
| Directed by | Vishnuvardhan |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Karan Johar Hiroo Yash Johar Apoorva Mehta Shabbir Boxwala Ajay Shah Himanshu Gandhi |
| Story by | Based on the life of Vikram Batra |
| Starring | Sidharth Malhotra Kiara Advani |
| Music by | Score: John Stewart Eduri Soundtrack: Tanishk Bagchi, B Praak, Jasleen Royal, Javed–Mohsin |
| Cinematography | Kamaljeet Negi |
| Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Production company | Dharma Productions Kaash Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release date | Error: Invalid time. |
| Running time | 135 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹55 crore (approx.) |
| Box office | N/A (direct-to-digital release) |
Shershaah is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language biographical war film directed by Vishnuvardhan and produced by Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment. The film stars Sidharth Malhotra as Captain Vikram Batra, a Param Vir Chakra awardee, with Kiara Advani in the lead role. The film traces Batra’s journey from his early life and military training to his heroic role in the Kargil War of 1999.
Plot
The film narrates the life of Captain Vikram Batra, an officer of the Indian Army, who displayed exemplary courage during the 1999 Kargil War. It covers his early aspirations to join the army, his love story with Dimple Cheema, his commissioning into the 13th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, and his fearless leadership during key battles in Kargil, including the capture of Point 4875. The story culminates with his supreme sacrifice for the nation, leading to his posthumous award of the Param Vir Chakra.
Cast
- Sidharth Malhotra as Capt. Vikram Batra / Vishal Batra (dual role)
- Kiara Advani as Dimple Cheema
- Shiv Panditt as Capt. Sanjeev Jamwal
- Nikitin Dheer as Major Ajay Jasrotia
- Shataf Figar as Lt. Col. Y.K. Joshi
- Sahil Vaid as Sunny
- Raj Arjun, Anil Charanjeett, Pawan Chopra and others in supporting roles
Production
The film was officially announced in 2018. Filming began in 2019 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shooting took place across multiple locations including Kargil, Chandigarh, Palampur, and Leh. Shershaah marked the Bollywood directorial debut of Vishnuvardhan.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack features music composed by Tanishk Bagchi, B Praak, Jasleen Royal, and Javed–Mohsin, with lyrics by Manoj Muntashir. Songs like "Raataan Lambiyan" and "Ranjha" became chartbusters and widely popular across India.
Release
Shershaah was released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on 12 August 2021, ahead of India’s Independence Day.
Marketing
The film’s trailer was launched in Kargil in July 2021. The marketing campaign highlighted its patriotic theme and the real-life legacy of Captain Vikram Batra.
Reception
Critical response
Shershaah received positive reviews for its emotional depth, performances, music, and depiction of the Kargil War. Critics particularly praised Sidharth Malhotra’s portrayal of Vikram Batra.
Box office
As a direct-to-digital release, the film did not have a theatrical box office run. However, it was declared one of the most-watched Indian films on Amazon Prime Video in 2021 and gained significant viewership worldwide.