Yes, Sky Force is based on true events and draws from real-life incidents. Sky Force is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language war drama film directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani. Produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, the movie stars Akshay Kumar and debutant Veer Pahariya, alongside Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan.
Sky Force is based on India’s retaliatory airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, highlighting a forgotten chapter of Indian military history. The movie also tells the story of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya. Film critics have described it as a tribute to actual war heroes and inspired by true events.
Plot Summary
Set against the backdrop of 1965 Indo-Pak war, Sky Force is inspired by India’s retaliatory aerial strikes against Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase, which remains one of the boldest and most significant operations in the history of Indian Air Force.
The story follows Wing Commander Kumar Om Ahuja, a dedicated IAF officer leading a squadron of fighters. During a high-stakes mission, a young pilot under his command engages in a fierce aerial dogfight and goes missing in action. Officially declared lost, his fate remains shrouded in mystery.
Ahuja refuses to let the sacrifice of his comrade be forgotten and fights a stubborn and lethargic bureaucracy. His efforts bear fruit when years later the missing hero receives due recognition.
Historical Context
Sky Force depicts the Indian airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the skies turned into a battleground, with the IAF and PAF clashing with each other. The Sargodha Airbase, one of the most formidable military installations, was the nerve centre for PAF’s air operations. The base housed crucial aircrafts and weaponry. Consequently, the IAF was tasked to hit the base and destroy it. In a daring and skillful attack, IAF Mysteres and Hunters struck key installations at Sargodha, severely wakening Pakistan’s air capabilities.
The movie also depicts the heroism of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya. During the course of the raid on Sargodha, Devayya’s aircraft was intercepted by Pakistani aircrafts. Instead of retreating, he engaged in a fierce aerial combat with the Pakistanis. Eventually, his aircraft was shot down and he was declared missing, presumed dead. Devayya was awarded the Param Veer Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, in 1988, 23 years after his death.
Sky Force fictionalises the character names and certain other details. However, the core plot revolves around historical events.