Airlift (film)

Airlift is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language thriller drama film directed by Raja Krishna Menon starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur, that follows Ranjit Katyal (played by Kumar), a Kuwait-based businessman as he carries out the evacuation of Indians based in Kuwait during the Invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's Iraq which lead to the beginning of the Gulf War. The film was jointly produced by Abundantia Entertainment, Cape of Good Films, Emmay Entertainment, Hari Om Entertainment, T-Series and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures on a total budget of ₹320 million. The plot is adapted from real life story of a Kuwait-based Malayali businessman Mathunny Mathews.

Director Menon wrote the script after studying the whole incident of war and the predicament of Indians based in Kuwait. He then approached Akshay Kumar for the role of a character based on Mathunny Mathews, He agreed to act and produce under his banner of Hari Om Entertainment, Kumar reported that his 80% profit share will be included in the film's budget and he would not charge fees. Filming began in February 2015. The first schedule of the film was reportedly shot in Al-Hamra Palace Beach Resort in Ras Al Khaimah. The sets were re-created to depict Kuwait during 1990. The film was shot in several locations including, Ujjain, Bhuj and Rajasthan. Kumar collaborated with the flight company Air India to promote the film who had a major contribution in the evacuation of record-breaking number of Indians during the war.

Airlift opened theatrically worldwide on 22 January 2016, coinciding with Republic Day weekend. The film received positive reviews from the critics, praising film's strong writing, soundtrack, scale, editing, cinematography and significant praise went to Akshay Kumar for his acting, calling his one of the best performances. The film was a commercial success, it emerged as a blockbuster at Indian as well as abroad box office. Airlift has grossed over ₹2.21 billion in global markets. The film is featured among the 2016 Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India.